In a bizarre move, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) suspended a woman conductor based on a complaint of having an “illicit relationship” with a male colleague. The action came after the male driver’s wife filed a complaint with Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar.
The suspension order cited reasons like diverting the driver's attention by engaging in conversation, failing to ensure the timely departure of passengers, and bringing disrepute to the department as lapses on the part of the woman conductor. "Though both denied having any relationship, verification of documents shows that there is merit in the complaint," said the KSRTC’s order, a copy of which TNM went through.
While the order, issued by the vigilance wing of the KSRTC on July 8, names the woman conductor, there is no mention of the male driver who is alleged to have been in a romantic relationship with her.
A section of KSRTC employees said that the issue shows the double standards of the department. "A few months ago, a woman conductor filed a harassment complaint against a driver in Kannur. The Internal Complaints Committee did not recommend any action against the driver. Finally, the woman had to file a police complaint, and then the driver was transferred. But there was no mention of the complaint in that order. Here, the name of the woman was mentioned in the order, without even considering the harm it causes to her reputation," said a KSRTC staff member.
Advocate Sandhya J said that not taking action against the male driver makes it seem like a case of moral policing. "There is nothing wrong with the department taking action for dereliction of duty. However, action was taken only against the woman," she said.
Sandhya also pointed out recent court orders regarding so-called illicit affairs. The Supreme Court, in 2018, ruled that Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalised adultery, was unconstitutional. The Calcutta High Court, in February, pointed out that friendship between a man and a woman should not be constructed as an illicit relationship. In April, the Delhi High Court pointed out that extra-marital relationships fall within the realm of personal morality and should not be criminalised.
In the case of the woman conductor, the probe team of the vigilance wing met the complainant and verified the copies of the WhatsApp chats between the man and woman, and a video, which were shared as ‘evidence’ in the complaint. As per the order, the team found that the conductor and driver were engaged in long conversations during duty hours. It was stated that they neglected passengers, who were left to signal their stops by ringing the bell themselves.
The probe team also reported lapses on the part of the conductor, including diverting the driver's attention by talking to him and standing in a way that obscured his view of the left side.
The woman conductor was suspended under section 10 of Kerala Civil Service (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules 1960.