Dual job by RTC drivers endangers passengers’ lives, says High Court

Hyderabad: A division bench of the AP High Court comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar on Monday dismissed a writ appeal filed by the APSRTC and ruled that the Corporation cannot require its drivers to perform the dual job of drivers and conductors in buses with Ticket Issue Machine Services (TIMS).

The Corporation filed an appeal questioning a single judge order insisting drivers not to perform dual duty in buses with TIMS. The single judge reasoned that drivers and conductors have separate duties and responsibilities as per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Act, makes it clear that no person shall act as a conductor unless he holds a required licence under Section 29 (1) of the Act. He ruled that the action of the Corporation in allotting duties of conductors to the drivers was in violation of the provisions of the Act and in the name of policy decision; the Corporation cannot violate the Act. The judge pointed out that any action that violates the provisions of the Act or Rule or endangers lives of passenger was illegal and the impugned course of action violates the right to life guaranteed to the passengers and road users since the driver cannot concentrate on driving.