Authorities told to file counter on plea for doors in buses

The Madras High Court on Friday directed authorities to file counter to a writ petition by a transport workers trade union seeking immediate steps for provision of doors in all buses of State transport undertakings within a time frame.

The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, before whom the public interest litigation petition came up, posted the matter for further hearing after four weeks.

In its petition filed through counsel R.Y.George Williams, the Nethaji Pokkuvarathu Thozhilalarkal Pathukappu Thozhil Sangam at Puliyankulam in Coimbatore district, represented by its president M. Anburaj, said every bus should be provided with automatic doors so that footboard travel could be avoided. This would also prevent attempts by commuters to board buses when they were in motion.

The petitioner said he had submitted a representation to the Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Coimbatore, in August 2007 submitting various suggestions for implementation in the interest of the public.

He cited the instance of a bus conductor, M. Velusamy, who fell from a running bus, plying between Ukkadam and Kombaikattuputhur, on October 10, 2009. He was issuing tickets near the front entrance.