Plea to ensure bypass rider buses operating between Madurai and Tirunelveli halt at appropriate location to facilitate restroom break dismissed

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has dismissed the petition that sought a direction to the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) to ensure all bypass rider buses operating between Madurai and Tirunelveli halt for a duration of 10 minutes at an appropriate location to facilitate restroom break for passengers.

A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete said the High Court is not expected to run the administration of the government department. The government department is bound to follow the statutes and the rules in force and regulate the affairs of the motor transport in the State.

The court observed that the High Court in exercise of the powers of judicial review cannot issue a direction with reference to the relief sought in the petition. In the event of issuing direction, it will amount to interfering with the administration of the Transport Department, which is not desirable and beyond the scope of powers of judicial review.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Mohamed Ayup of Tirunelveli who sought a direction to TNSTC to ensure all bypass rider buses operating between Madurai and Tirunelveli halt for a duration of 10 minutes at an appropriate location to facilitate restroom break for passengers. The court dismissed the petition.