Life more important than livelihood: Delhi high court

Holding that right to life was more important than right to livelihood, the Delhi high court (HC) ruled out on Thursday renewal of permits to run “killer” Blueline buses in the national capital.

It asked the state government to instead implement the cluster bus scheme to ensure a hassle-free public transport system.

Justice AK Sikri said despite 1,700 Blueline buses going off roads recently after the expiry of their permits, commuters were not facing major difficulty.

“Right to life is paramount and cannot be compared with right of [sic] livelihood,” the court said.

It accepted the submission of the Delhi government that various modes of transport, including metro, low-floor buses, Gramin Sewa vehicles and metro feeder service, were available for commuters and the absence of Blueline buses won’t cause inconvenience.

“There is no requirement of Blueline buses on city roads. Keeping in view the changing scenario, there is no reason to extend their permits,” the court held.

It, however, allowed 328 Blueline buses to ply till the expiry of their permits in June 2012.

Taking suo motu congisance of an accident in 2007 involving a Blueline in which eight people were killed, HC had directed the state government to phase out the buses and replace them with low-floor ones.