Half Ticket passangers to get full seats: High Court

Deciding in the wake of a public interest litigation filed before it, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued directions to the effect that children in the age of 3-12 years, for whom half-ticket is given in buses, would be given full seats in the buses. Noting the actuating circumstances; 'plight of a mother traveling in a bus, having 2 ½ years old baby in the lap and another child aged 8 years standing in the passage' behind the moving of the litigation; the High Court took into account the allegation made by the petitioner that the "notice, displayed in writing in each bus, stating that half ticketed passenger is not entitled to seat, amounts to cruelty to the children, especially when seats are reserved for Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assembly, ladies and physically handicapped persons." It was also pleaded before the High Court that it "should come to the rescue of a child, who is entitled to love and affection because of tender age and is made to stand in a bus."

From a perusal of the decision it transpires that concerned authorities were not oblivious to the plight of the children and therefore were sensible enough to act on their own accord to issue instructions that such children for whom half-ticket was taken be provided full seats, which the decision of the High Court notes. 

In view of the authorities having accepted the plea of the Petitioners, the High Court directed as under;

Counsel for the State of Punjab and Haryana have made a statement that the instructions issued shall be strictly adhered to and half ticketed child will be provided a full seat. They have also assured that the process of amending the Rules is being followed in right earnest and till the Rules are amended, children of the age between 3 to 12 years, having half ticket, shall be provided full seat. Counsel for the petitioner has also expressed satisfaction.

In these circumstances, all that we need to say is that in all the buses, operated in States of Punjab and Haryana, it shall be displayed in writing at a conspicuous place in the bus that half ticketed passenger will be entitled to full seat.

Have a look at the decision.