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High Court to Hear Challenge Against Tamil Nadu's Free Bus Scheme for Women; 'Vetri Payanam' at Risk?
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News18•04-10-2026, 20:14
High Court to Hear Challenge Against Tamil Nadu's Free Bus Scheme for Women; 'Vetri Payanam' at Risk?
- •Tamil Nadu CM Vijay launched the 'Vetri Payanam' scheme on October 2, extending free bus travel for women to include inter-district government buses.
- •The scheme allows women to travel for free on over 12,600 government buses across Tamil Nadu.
- •Kalamani, a private bus owner from Erode, filed a petition in the Chennai High Court, arguing the scheme reduces private bus income and violates the right to equality.
- •The petition claims the scheme is implemented based solely on CM Vijay's assembly announcement without a proper government order.
- •The petitioner has requested an interim stay on the scheme's implementation until a final verdict, with the hearing scheduled for October 5.
Key Questions Answered
The Vetri Payanam scheme, launched by Chief Minister Vijay on October 2, allows women in Tamil Nadu to travel for free on more than 12,600 government buses, including local, Express, LSS, and Deluxe buses.
A private bus owner from Erode filed a petition arguing that the free travel scheme reduces private bus income, violates the right to equality by excluding men, and lacks a formal government order since it was based solely on an assembly announcement.
The Tamil Nadu government bears approximately 6,000 crore rupees annually as travel expenses for the beneficiaries of the Vetri Payanam scheme.
