HC junks plea against halting TNSTC buses at motels, warns petitioner

Madurai: Dismissing a plea by a man seeking a direction to Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) to instruct the drivers of buses operating from Trichy to Madurai and Madurai to Tirunelveli routes not to stop at motels on the highways, Madras high court warned the petitioner not to file public interest litigation of this nature in future.The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by A M Sundaravel. The petitioner, appearing as party-in-person, alleged that TNSTC buses were halted at the motels by drivers and conductors only to get free food. He stated that since the buses were halted at these motels, passengers were put to mental agony. Hence, the petitioner moved court.A division bench of justice G Jayachandran and justice K K Ramakrishnan observed that, on perusal of the records, they found no merit in this petition. In a long-distance route, for the sake of passengers as well as the crew members, the buses were halted to get some relief from tiredness, to have some snacks or food of their choice, and also to attend nature's calls. The larger interest of the passengers was predominant.The allegation of the petitioner that the motel managements were providing food to the crew members free of cost, and only for the sake of halting the transport corporation buses at the motels, was mischievous and condemnable. Hence, the judges observed that they were not inclined to entertain the petition and dismissed it.The judges also warned the petitioner not to file public interest litigation of this nature henceforth. If he continued to file public interest litigation of this nature, he would be prohibited from filing any public interest litigation in future.