In a major setback to protesting Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) employees the High Court of Telangana has disposed of the writ petition that was filed against the state governments' decision to privatise as many as 5100 routes in the state.
The High Court while hearing a set of petitions pertaining to the matter observed that it can't intervene in the governments' decision to privatise the bus routes. Earlier, in the backdrop of the indefinite strike taken up by the RTC staff K Chandrasekhar’s government took a decision to privatise as many as 5100 routes.
According to the reports available the High Court bench said that the petitioner has failed to prove the loops in the decision of state cabinet. The court also observed that the decision was as per the Section 102 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which deals with "cancellation or modification of scheme", and states that, "The state government may, at any time, if it considers necessary, in public interest, can modify any approved scheme."
Speaking to TNM on the HC's verdict, Professor P L Vishweshwar Rao, the petitioner in the case, said, “The court has given a verdict in favour of the government to privatise the RTC routes. I am quite disappointed with it. The court stated that they are satisfied with the government’s argument. Being a petitioner, what exactly the government submitted in the sealed cover, I am not aware of. How could I defend my case, if I don’t know the contention of the government? I will now approach the Supreme Court.”
This decision is being seen as a major setback to the employees who began their indefinite strike on October 5 with 26 demands including asking that they be treated as government employees, with the same benefits. On Wednesday, the TSRTC JAC announced that it was willing to give up its indefinite strike after 47 days if the government allowed them to return without any pre-conditions.
However, KCR’s government withheld the decision on taking back the employees in view of the High Court verdict. It is unclear, however, whether the government will accommodate them (employees) after the HC order.
The TSRTC employees protest has resulted in at least 20 deaths. The government and the employees have been locked in a bitter battle for weeks.