The Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the High Court order banning advertisements on KSRTC buses. The Supreme Court has sought the state government’s stand on the new scheme given by KSRTC regarding posting of advertisements.
Justices Surya Kant, J. K. A Supreme Court bench comprising Maheshwari and others stayed the High Court verdict. The KSRTC has referred the scheme to the Supreme Court, which will no longer display advertisements on buses that distract drivers of other vehicles and pedestrians. In the scheme, KSRTC has also clarified that advertisements are displayed only on the sides and rear of the buses in compliance with motor vehicle rules. The Supreme Court sought the state government’s stand on this scheme.
Other proposals of the scheme are: A committee will be formed under the chairmanship of the MD to examine the advertisements and grant approval. KSRTC also stated that another committee will be formed under the chairmanship of a retired judge from the High Court to look into the complaints against the posted advertisements.
It has been clarified that a four-member committee will be formed under the chairmanship of the MD to examine and approve the applications received for posting advertisements. Chief Law Officer of KSRTC. Apart from senior managers, the committee also includes a technical member. The member of the technical committee will be the director of I&PRD who has retired from the post of deputy director or a media person.
A special cell will be formed to look into the complaints of the general public regarding the advertisement. The committee, headed by a retired High Court judge, will have the Chief Law Officer and Senior Manager of KSRTC as members. It has also been explained in the scheme submitted by the government to the Supreme Court that the committee will decide the complaints in a timely manner.
Senior Advocate V Giri and Standing Consul Deepak Prakash appeared in the Supreme Court on behalf of KSRTC.