HC raps govt for issuing bus licences ‘carelessly’

The Delhi high court on Thursday observed that Blueline buses would not have caused so many accidents if the government had been more cautious in issuing licences to drivers.

The Delhi high court on Thursday observed that Blueline buses would not have caused so many accidents if the government had been more cautious in issuing licences to drivers.

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Pointing out that Blueline operators were not solely to be blamed for the accidents, a bench headed by justice AK Sikri told the counsel who appeared for transport department, "The problem would not have arisen if you had ensured only trained drivers were given licences."

The court was hearing petitions filed by operators challenging the Blueline phase-out. The court endorsed the argument presented by senior counsel VP Singh who appeared for the Blueline operators and said that the government should improve its governance. "The power to give licences is with them (government). Bus operators cannot produce drivers," Singh said in court.

Justice Sikri, however, also pointed out to Singh that the operators, too, had a responsibility to ensure that their drivers did not cause accidents.

"I can understand your arguments partly blaming the government for the problem, but it is an innocent way of saying that you are not responsible," the judge said.