Kerala High Court Upholds Ban on KSRTC's Indefinite Driver Engagement
The Kerala High Court delivered a decisive ruling on Friday. A bench comprising Justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and P V Balakrishnan upheld a previous single bench order. This order restrains the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation from engaging empanelled drivers indefinitely.
Court Dismisses KSRTC's Appeal
The High Court passed this order while dismissing KSRTC's appeal. The corporation had challenged the single bench decision. The court firmly rejected KSRTC's arguments against the restrictions.
Earlier, the High Court established clear guidelines for temporary appointments. It held that KSRTC may make temporary appointments. However, such appointees cannot continue in service for more than 180 days.
Strict Rules for Temporary Appointments
The court emphasized several key points in its judgment:
- Empanelled drivers cannot serve beyond 180 days.
- These individuals cannot continue in preference to PSC-advised candidates.
- Upon completing 180 days, they must be discharged from service.
- They cannot receive reappointment to the same post.
The appointing authority received limited permission for reappointments. It can reappoint such persons only under specific conditions. Fresh candidates must not be available through the employment exchange. The Public Service Commission must also provide its concurrence.
KSRTC's Violations of Court Orders
The High Court observed troubling practices by KSRTC. Even after terminating empanelled drivers per earlier orders, the corporation continued engaging them. It adopted tortuous methods to bypass judicial directives.
The bench strongly condemned KSRTC's actions. It held that deploying empanelled drivers for future engagements violates High Court and Supreme Court judgments. Such practices cannot receive legal sustenance.
Accordingly, the court dismissed the appeal entirely. This ruling reinforces judicial authority over public sector employment practices. It ensures compliance with established labor laws and commission guidelines.
