KSRTC unhappy with MVD not restricting buses with All India Permit conducting service in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has come out against the Motor Vehicle Department for not restricting contract carriers with All India Permit to conduct services in the state. 

The Kerala MVD maintains that there is no reason to prevent private buses holding All India Permits from operating anywhere in the state. 

All India Permit allows operators to conduct service from one place to another without the burden of paying separate road taxes in different states. However, the Kerala Government had earlier imposed additional tax to restrict such buses from allegedly conducting regular services inside Kerala. Supreme Court, however, restricted states from imposing such tax on All India Permit vehicles. 

KSRTC, on the other hand, cites a 2004 Supreme Court judgment and claims that only route buses (Stage Carriers) can conduct regular services by publicising the schedule, route details and offering separate tickets. 

Therefore, KSRTC points out that Kerala MVD has provisions to seize contract carriers for violating these rules.  

Last day, the MVD seized a private bus in Pathanamthitta and terminated its fitness. However, the officials didn't take any action over the service conducted by the bus since they held an All India Permit.