For 22 years, a bus conductor of Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) fought a legal battle to get his job back after he was fired for allegedly ferrying 59 passengers without tickets.
This incident happened on June 23, 2004, when Mr Prasad was working as a conductor on Uttar Pradesh government bus traveling from Faizabad to Akbarpur. About 12 km into the journey, a surprise inspection was conducted and it was found that he had failed to issue tickets to 59 passengers in the bus though he had filled out paybills.
As a result, he received a charge sheet and on September 19, 2004, an inquiry report was presented. Following this, the Assistant Regional Manager, Akbarpur, issued a second show-cause notice, leading to his termination from service. Although he had filed a representation, the charge was partly proved.
Still feeling aggrieved, he had filed a case in Allahabad High Court.
Before the high court his lawyer argued vehemently and referred orders passed by UPSRTC and said that on date of inspection, he was suffering with stomach pain and inspection was conducted within two kilometers from starting point of bus, therefore, he was not able to distribute tickets.
His lawyer also told the high court that after making count of passengers, he has filled pay-bills and has received the ticket money also, therefore, there was no loss to Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC).
His lawyer also pointed that the author of inspection report has meanwhile expired during the pendency of this legal case and therefore, the report was not proved during subsequent inquiry and none of passengers also has given any statement and thus on this ground his lawyer argued that the punishment was shockingly disproportionate.
UPSRTC's governement counsel told the high court that it was a case where disciplinary authority has made a disagreement to inquiry report submitted in second round of disciplinary proceedings and has made a specific reason in second notice, however, he has not submitted any reply within stipulated time, therefore, on basis of material available, it was found that he has committed misconduct that admittedly he was carrying 59 passengers without ticket.
UPSRTC's counsel also told the high court that the inspection was conducted after about 12 kilometers from starting point of bus and not after 2 kilometers as alleged by him. Therefore, there was no explanation for not providing tickets even after such a long journey.
Allahabad High Court rules against the bus conductor
The Allahabad High Court referenced a related case (MD, North-East Karnataka Road Transport Corpn. v. K. Murti, (2006) 12 SCC 570) and held that carrying passengers without ticket or discounted tickets means dishonesty or gross negligence and making such conduct unacceptable for continued service as it can cause financial loss to the government.
The Allahabad High Court also observed that the bus was inspected 12kms from the starting point and the conductor had sufficient time to distribute tickets to the passengers, reported Livelaw.
The high court pointed out that carrying passengers without ticket is a serious misconduct and in this regard, they took note of the aforementioned judgments and that Mr Prasad failed to provide any reasonable explanation for how he could fill out paybills in advance without issuing tickets to passengers. Therefore, Allahabad High Court said that they do not find any reason to interfere with impugned order in limited writ jurisdiction.
April 16, 2026 Allahabad High Court order: The writ petition was dismissed and his termination was confirmed.
