Labour Court Orders Driver's Reinstatement

A labour court here has ordered the reinstatement of a bus driver attached to the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC), who was removed on charges of negligent driving, two months ahead of his retirement with back wages and consequential benefits.

In the petition, P Rathinam from Tirunelveli contended that while he was driving a bus from Marthandam to Chennai in November 1998, the vehicle rammed into a lorry killing four, including the conductor of the bus. The reason for the accident was a flat tyre.

However, the SETC blamed the incident on his negligence and dismissied him from service following an enquiry in 1999. But this was overturned by a court in Virudhunagar in 2002 following which conciliation process was initiated. This too failed after which HC allowed the petioner to approach the Labour court.