Kerala: High Court tells Pinarayi Vijayan Government to close down KSRTC if it cannot pay salary on time

Kerala High Court asked the management, read Government of Kerala, to close down Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) if it cannot pay employees wages. Court was considering the employee petition regarding nonpayment of their wages. The Court observed it when the GoK counsel submitted before the Court that wages for January would be paid before February 15. The counsel said 26 lakhs and around 26,000 employees depend on the Corporation.

The Court shot back that commuters would find other means for their transport. Employees’ counsel said they are ready to accept Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) if granted.

The petitioners submitted that earlier Court had instructed the Government to pay the wages before February 5, and it was extended to February 10. But, still, they have not received the salary for January.

Management submitted that KSRTC had received Rs 50 crores from Kerala Government per month. Now, it has been reduced to Rs 30 crores. It was informed during the Secretary-level discussion that it would be stopped by April. KSRTC’s affidavit is explained to be informing the employees of the latest development.

In the meantime, Court asked the employees how come their salaries be paid if the situation mentioned above prevailed.

But, the trade unions are up in arms against the management’s affidavit before the Court that the Government stops the aid in April. Leaders of CITU, the trade union of ruling CPM, state that the affidavit was to misguide the Court and it is against the CPM government’s policy. BMS union leaders alleged that the LDF regime granted a natural death to KSRTC.

For the last several years, the LDF Government has been at the receiving end in connection with the mismanagement of the KSRTC and the burning grievances of the employees. The organisations of employees and the pensioners of KSRC have been agitating against the Government and KSRC due to the lack of regular salaries and pensions.

In short, the KSRTC stalemate is another example of the financial mismanagement of the communist regime.