Govt in the dock over delay in phase-out of blueline buses

The Delhi High Court on Thursday for the first time threatened contempt proceedings against Delhi Government for not doing enough towards phasing out blueline buses, despite an ambitious announcement way back in November 2007, Harish V Nair.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday for the first time threatened contempt proceedings against Delhi Government for not doing enough towards phasing out blueline buses, despite an ambitious announcement way back in November 2007.

HT Image

An angry Bench of justice Vikramjit Sen and A K Pathak has summoned Transport Commissioner R K Verma to the court on Friday. The tongue lashing from Justice Sen came when Delhi Government lawyer Meera Bhatia sought extension of temporary permits of blueline buses, which were to expire on Thursday.

This is the sixth time the Government is seeking permit extension citing inconvenience to the public as sufficient numbers of alternative buses are not on the road. But the court refused to entertain the excuse.

Verma has been asked to explain the steps taken so far to procure buses in place of bluelines, status of implementation of cluster system and installation of Global Positioning System (GPS) in buses.

“Why an extension every time? Was it required if you had implemented the court's orders? Are you taking us for a ride? Please don’t take us for granted. Tell your client the Transport Commissioner to be personally present in the court tomorrow. If it is found that no orders of this court have been implemented, he will go behind bars,” Justice Sen told the Delhi Government lawyer.