Chhattisgarh HC Expresses Concern Over Discontinuance Of Buses In Bilaspur, Warns Transport Commissioner Of Contempt Over Misleading Affidavit

Referring to a news report which revealed that city buses were inoperational for the last 4 days due to a breakdown, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal observed,

“City buses have been operating for last ten years within a radius of 30 km. from the city and buses were being run somehow on Takhatpur, Kota, Khuntaghat, Bilha route despite being old. During the Corona period, many trains do not have stoppages at Bilha, Kota and other small stations. In view of this, the city bus is very important for urban people as well as the areas of the region. A large number of people are getting upset due to the city bus not being operated for last 4 days. Corporation officials say that the buses have deteriorated due to being old and now they are not even worth repairing. It cannot be said that for how many more days people will not be able to get this facility. It is being said in the said news item that new e-buses will start after Diwali.”

Background

The Court was dealing with a Public Interest Litigation highlighting the substantial reduction in city bus services across the State, particularly in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic where buses in several cities were reported to be “standing in the yard” for more than two years.

When the matter was last heard on 22.07.2025, the Secretary/Transport Commissioner had informed the Court that in Bilaspur– out of 9 city buses, insurance, fitness and tax of 6 buses had been deposited and 5 buses had started operating, with the remaining 1 bus to be made operational soon. However, the news report revealed that all city buses had stopped operation entirely for the last 4 days, warranting the Court's interference.

Reprimanding the Secretary/Transport Commissioner, the Division Bench stated,

“...Secretary-cum-Transport Commissioner, Department of Transport, Government of Chhattisgarh, Raipur is directed to remain present before this Court tomorrow to explain why he has filed a misleading affidavit before this Court on 20th July, 2025, wherein it was stated that out of six city buses, five had commenced operation and the remaining one would be made operational shortly though the same were not fit for use and became non-operational within 20 days and it is causing great hardship to the public at large; and further, to show cause as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him for the same.”

The matter is listed for hearing today.

Case Details:

Case Number: WPPIL No. 54 of 2024

Case Title: IN THE MATTER OF SUO MOTO PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION v. THE STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

Click Here To Read/Download Order