Chhattisgarh High Court: In a suo motu public interest litigation (‘PIL’) filed regarding the poor condition of the bus system in the State, the Division Bench of Ramesh Sinha, CJ., and Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, J., noted that contrary to the claim of the Secretary-cum-Transport Commissioner, Department of Transport, Chhattisgarh (‘TC’), that five city buses had commenced operation, the buses stopped functioning in a few days after starting operation. The Court directed the TC to appear personally and explain why he filed a misleading affidavit and why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him.
Background
The present petition was registered based on a news report published in 2024 in Bilaspur Bhaskar stating that there had been a substantial reduction in the public transport facilities because in 9 cities, only 106 out of the 378 buses were functional. Further, out of the 106 buses, only 70 to 80 were in operation. In the cities of Durg-Bhilai and Jagdalpur, there were no operational buses. Additionally, before the COVID-19 pandemic, 378 buses were functional in 10 cities, which were being run by the Urban Public Service Society, but after the pandemic, these buses were standing in the yard for more than two years.
It was also reported that funds had been allocated to three Municipal Corporations for the purchase of new city buses, but none had been purchased in the last five years.
On the last date of hearing, i.e., on 22-07-2025, the TC filed an affidavit stating that out of six city buses, five buses had started running and one bus would become operational soon. However, another news article was published in Bilaspur Bhaskar stating that the city bus service, which had been closed for years and had restarted due to the Court’s strictness, had stopped within a few days.
Analysis
The Court stated that, as per the news report, city buses were not running on any route in the city for the last four days due to the breakdown of the buses.
“This is the situation when 20 days ago, the Secretary-cum-Transport Commissioner had given an affidavit saying that the insurance, fitness, and tax of 6 out of 9 city buses had been deposited, five were currently running on the roads, and one more would start soon.”
The Court remarked that city buses had been operating for the last ten years within a radius of 30 km from the city, and buses were somehow operating on the Takhatpur, Kota, Khuntaghat, and Bilha routes despite being old. During the COVID-19 period, many trains did not have stoppages at Bilha, Kota, and other small stations. Thus, the city bus was essential for urban people as well as the regional areas. A large number of people were getting upset due to the city bus not operating for the last few days.
The Court noted that, as per the Municipal Corporation, the buses had deteriorated due to being old, and now they were not even worth repairing. It could not be determined for how many more days people would not be able to get this facility. The Court further noted that, as per the said news item, new e-buses will start after Diwali.
Thus, the Court directed the TC to remain present before the Court the next day to explain why he filed a misleading affidavit despite the buses not being fit for use and show cause as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him for the same.
The matter was listed for 14-08-2025.
[In the Matter of Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation v. State of Chhattisgarh, WPPIL No. 54 of 2024, decided on 13-08-2025]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the respondent: Additional Advocate General Yashwant Singh Thakur, Anuroop Panda, Preeti Yadav, A.S. Kachhwaha, and Dr. Sudeep Agrawal
