Kerala HC on free KSRTC travel scheme for women 'Poll promise fulfilled'

The Kerala High Court on Thursday observed that the UDF administration’s newly launched Priyadarshini Scheme, which offers free travel for women and transgender persons in ordinary KSRTC buses, was a fulfilment of its poll promise. 

A bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V M was also of the view that it was a policy decision of the government which was meant for the working class women.

“At least they have fulfilled their promise (made during



elections),” the bench said while hearing the public interest litigation (PIL) by Muhammed Firdouz, who describes himself as a public-spirited citizen and taxpayer.

Advocate Shameem Ahamed M P, appearing for the petitioner, told the bench that the scheme was “discriminatory” and violative of Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution as it provides free bus travel to women and transgender persons without any income limit, residential qualification or identified disadvantage that it seeks to address.