Uttarakhand HC Imposes Stay on Permits for Private Buses on State Roadways Routes

The Uttarakhand High Court has imposed a stay on the issuance of permits to private buses to operate on 13 routes designated for state roadways buses and has requested a response from the state government regarding the matter.

The stay order was issued by a bench of Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal in response to a petition filed by Uttarakhand Roadways Employees Union general secretary Ashok Choudhary.

Choudhary challenged the government’s decision to grant permits to private vehicles to operate on routes exclusively meant for state roadways buses, arguing that it was “incorrect” and would have a negative impact on the revenue of the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation.

Representing the government, it was contended that the petition was not maintainable because the petitioners did not raise any objections with the government when the decision was being made. The government’s counsel suggested that since the decision has already been made, it should be appealed before the appellate authority.

However, the petitioner argued that objections had indeed been raised but were disregarded by the authorities.