New Delhi, 23 September (H.S.): The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Delhi government and the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to ensure that all buses in its fleet are operated on the roads of the national capital so that commuters can access public transport services.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia also disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the immediate restoration and proper functioning of DTC and other public bus services in Delhi.

The petition was filed by advocate Amee Sisodia, who raised concerns over the difficulties faced by commuters due to the ongoing strike by DTC employees. According to the petition, drivers, conductors and other staff associated with public bus operations had been on strike since September 15, demanding higher salaries and improved service benefits.

The plea sought directions for the immediate restoration of DTC services, along with measures to ensure proper maintenance of buses and their uninterrupted operation in the future.

The petitioner also highlighted the difficulties faced by women commuters, stating that the disruption of free public transport services had forced many to rely on more expensive alternatives for their daily travel.

The petition further stated that the strike had affected millions of residents across Delhi-NCR, including students, daily-wage workers, salaried employees, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, patients and economically weaker commuters who depend heavily on affordable public transport.

It also pointed to increased pressure on the Delhi Metro network as commuters sought alternative modes of transportation amid the disruption in bus services.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar