K. Arjuna, S/O Late K. Subbaramaiah, v. A.P. State Road Transport Corporation,

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE NOOTY RAMAMOHANA RAO W.P.No.13085 of 2015 O R D E R:

The petitioner, who is employed as a Conductor with the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (for short 'the Corporation') and attached to its Peler Depot, challenges the order of suspension dated 15-04-2015 passed by the Depot Manager, Peler Bus Depot, Chittoor District.

The grievance of the petitioner is that the bus, which he was asked to conduct, is not having enough pick-up strength and consequently, it is not able to cover the distance within the specified / scheduled time. Several passengers have been complaining that the bus is travelling at too low a speed causing inconvenience. In those circumstances, when the petitioner has brought it to the notice of the Depot Manager, he has been advised to take the vehicle to the garage for getting any problem with regard to the engine solved there. In spite of the bus being attended to by the mechanic at the garage, there was no improvement and consequently, on 06-04-2015, the petitioner appears to have requested for cancellation of the bus service as, on the same route, namely between Peler and Tirupati, three other busses are being operated.

However, the Traffic Inspector appears to have declined to cancel the service and some altercation has taken place. The petitioner alleges that he has been manhandled and in such a frustrated mood, he appears to have thrown his cash bag on the floor and seems to have made a remark that there is no use of leading a life where all people abuse him. It appears, a security constable available at that particular moment at the Bus Depot seems to have pacified the petitioner from getting further depressed about the incident. However, on a complaint said to have been lodged by the Bus Station Manager, the petitioner has been placed under suspension. Hence, the present writ petition.

Heard Sri A.K. Jayaprakash Rao, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri A. Rama Rao, learned Standing Counsel for the respondent Corporation.

As to whether the facts and circumstances of the case really warrant the petitioner to be placed under suspension or not, would depend upon the nature of aggression exhibited by the offending party. Since the petitioner has already lodged a complaint against the Bus Station Manager, it is only appropriate that the Regional Manager of the Corporation should ascertain from both of them as to what has happened really and, if necessary, can also examine the security constable on duty at that moment and based upon the preliminary enquiry so undertaken by him, let appropriate orders either approving the action of the Depot Manager, Peler Depot, Chittoor District or revoking the same, be taken and communicated to the petitioner. Let this exercise be completed within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

With this, the writ petition stands disposed of at the admission stage, but however, without costs.

Consequently, the miscellaneous petitions, if any, stand disposed of.

__________________________ NOOTY RAMAMOHANA RAO, J.

mrk 29.04.2015.