The prayer by bus operators to revise fares in view of hike in fuel prices: Calcutta High Court

Panasam Akshara | Calcutta HC | Jul 13, 2022

Calcutta High Court directs transport secretary to consider within six weeks the prayer by bus operators to revise fares in the view of hike in fuel prices.Justice P Mukherjee and Justice Subhendu Samanta passed directions citing Sec 67 of the Motor Vehicle Act,1988 that gives State Government power for fixing economically competitive fares and freights.Asansol Minibus Association and all the Bengal Bus Samannoy Committee moved to high court seeking to revise the fares.The court,while disposing petition directs the appellants to make representation before state authorities.Counswl for the association,Mukul Lahiri submitted that state had revised fares in 2018.Lahiri pointed out how diesel prices spiraled to Rs 93 a litre since then.State advocate Amal Mukherjee opposed prayer saying that fare revision is a matter of policy decision by state government.Mukherjee held that such decision beyond the scope of the court's intervention.A single bench had earlier dismissed the association's petition.