'Women need not board...’: Passengers allege gender discrimination by private bus crew in Kasaragod

Kanathur: A formal complaint has been lodged with the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) against the crew of a private bus operating on the Kasaragod–Erinjipuzha–Kuttikkol route following allegations of blatant gender discrimination and hazardous driving practices.

The incident occurred near the Kanathur bus stop around 5:30 pm, when a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) vehicle carrying approximately 80 passengers broke down, leaving commuters—including school pupils and long-distance female travellers—stranded.

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According to commuters, when passengers attempted to board a subsequent private bus to continue their journeys, the conductor and cleaner barred female passengers from entering.

Witnesses reported that the crew publicly declared, "Women do not need to board; we will only take men." Passengers alleged that the crew's refusal was driven by resentment towards state-run KSRTC services offering free travel schemes for women.

Furthermore, the crew allegedly refused to halt safely at the designated Kanathur bus shelter. Instead, the driver merely slowed the vehicle down past the stop, forcing commuters to rush and board the moving bus in a dangerous manner. Only a couple of women managed to board under these perilous conditions.

A passenger has formally submitted a petition to the Regional Transport Officer (RTO), demanding strict legal action against the bus crew and permit holder under the Motor Vehicles Act for public gender discrimination, permit violations, and endangering passenger safety.