State govt’s free bus travel scheme for women ‘discriminatory’, says PIL in Kerala HC

Kochi: A PIL has been filed before high court challenging the Priyadarshini Scheme introduced by the state govt, which provides free travel in ordinary KSRTC buses to all women and transgender persons, alleging that the scheme is arbitrary, discriminatory, and violative of Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution of India.The PIL, filed by Muhammed Firdouz of Ernakulam, who claims to be a frequent KSRTC bus traveller, alleges that the scheme is being implemented solely on the basis of gender, without any income criterion, residential qualification, or specifically identified disadvantage sought to be remedied. The petition further claims that the scheme imposes a burden on the public exchequer of approximately Rs 2 crore per day, amounting to nearly Rs 800 crore annually.Firdouz further contends that the scheme was not the result of a considered policy decision but rather a pre-written electoral promise mechanically converted into a govt order, with the machinery of the state pressed into service even before the govt had been properly constituted. According to the petition, prior to implementing the scheme, the state govt neither examined KSRTC’s financial position nor constituted any ministerial committee, despite committing the state exchequer to an annual expenditure of Rs 800 crore.

The petitioner further alleges that no empirical data were collected to identify the specific disadvantage sought to be remedied and that no measurable benchmarks, impact assessment, financial sustainability analysis, or consideration of alternatives preceded the decision to introduce the scheme. In addition, the petition seeks an interim stay of the govt order dated June 11.