SC dismisses PIL to resume Delhi-UP bus services

New Delhi, Dec 8: The Supreme Court today dismissed a PIL seeking directions to the Uttar Pradesh government and the Delhi government to resume bus services between the two states immediately.

A bench comprising Justices KG Balakrishnan and DK Jain said, ''On the one hand you talk of judicial activism and on the other hand you want this court to run buses.'' The observations of the court came during the mentioning of the petition filed by one Rajiv Nanda.

The petitioner, in his petition, has contended that the impasse between the two states on the issue of resuming intertstate bus services was causing tremendous hardships to the daily commuters as well as the public at large.

An MoU between the two states was signed in the year 1985 for 15 years and was later extended.

On November 15, the Delhi government seized 11 new buses flagged off by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh operating on CNG. In retaliation, UP government barred the entry of DTC buses in the state with effect from November 17, 2006 and impounded over hundred DTC buses, the number of which went up to 123.

A PIL was filed in Delhi High Court which directed the two warring states to resolve their differences within ten days from December 1, 2006 but no progress seems to have been made in that direction.

According to the petitioner, the present controversy has adversely effected the trade and commerce between the two states besides causing unprecedented hardships to the people.

UNI