The Gujarat High Court refused to grant urgent hearing to an appeal filed by private tourist bus operators who have challenged a State government decision restricting the plying of such buses within Ahmedabad from morning 8 AM till 10 PM.
A division bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee said that such restrictions appeared to be justified since there have been numerous accidents in the city.
“The decision seems correct. There are so many accidents taking place in the city. I myself have seen at least two accidents on my way to the High Court. One person died on the spot. This is scary. Thus, the restriction is rightly imposed,” the Chief Justice observed.
However, Senior Advocate Shaleen Mehta who appeared for the bus operators, said that the decision was discriminatory as it only restricts private buses while allowing public buses to ply throughout the day.
“We are facing such discrimination for more than a year now. We expect some relief before Diwali,” Mehta said while urging the Court to grant an urgent hearing before the forthcoming Diwali vacation.
The bench, however, turned down the request saying that the matter can be heard after Diwali vacations.
“Let it come up post Deepawali break. Let the citizens at least of this city, enjoy the festival and live in peace, till Deepawali. It will come up post the vacations now,” Chief Justice Agarwal said while refusing the request for an urgent hearing.