'Your Decision Causing Much Inconvenience': Delhi High Court Seeks DTC's Response Over Discontinuation Of Bus Services To Private Schools

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought response from the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) over its decision of withdrawing bus services to private schools in the city.

A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla noted that the arrangement has been ongoing since decades and the sudden withdrawal of services despite amelioration of the Covid-19 situation is causing much inconvenience to the school children and their parents.

It has therefore ordered the Corporation to file its counter affidavit in the matter within 4 weeks, justifying the reasons for its decision. The authority has been further directed to place on record the relevant file notings containing the decision taken by DTC with reasons therefor.

The development ensued in a public interest litigation moved by Baba Alexander, founder Secretary of National Child Development Council(NCDC), a NGO that is a UN Global Compact partner. The plea states that the decision has an adverse effect not only on the parents and students, but on every citizen of the city as the same impinges on the right to clean environment, being an implicit aspect of Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

The counsel appearing for DTC on advance notice informed the Court that the bus service was provided on the basis of a contractual arrangement between DTC and the schools, which now stands expired. He submitted that DTC is not under any legal obligation to provide bus services to private schools.

He added that there has been a shortage of public buses and they require buses for the public; schools may make alternate arrangements.

"These children are also public. How much inconvenience..." Justice Chawla responded.

However, the counsel submitted that since private schools have been charging from the students, they might as well engage private players.

The Bench then enquired if the Corporation has assessed the impact of such a move on Delhi's traffic conditions. The counsel responded in the affirmative.

The matter will now be taken up on 3rd August.

The plea has been moved by Advocates Robin Raju, Deepa Joseph and Blessan Mathews. The respondents are DTC and the Ministry of Transport, Delhi Government.

According to the plea, the decision of DTC to withdraw its services to schools has disappointed the parents and children at large for the reason that there was no justification for discontinuing its service to schools after doing so for years. It adds that the said decision will increase vehicular pollution and make the air quality more worse including increased traffic woes which may result in a lot of time wastage in travelling.

Case Title: Baba Alexander v. Delhi Transport Corporation & Anr.