The Thrissur vigilance court has ordered that a case be registered against Kerala transport department commissioner R Sreelekha IPS for allegedly incurring loss to government by sanctioning school bus permit to private buses.
The court was deciding on the petition filed by a Chalakkudy resident who complained that the commissioner sanctioned the permit of many private buses under school bus permit, which has incurred huge loss to government in tax.
Some of the bus owners are on the defensive. The tax for private buses is Rs 1.47 lakh per year and for school buses it was just Rs 3,920. Earlier in a crime branch enquiry it was found that many private bus owners have been evading tax by running their bus with school bus permit. The court asked thus asked vigilance department to take up the case.
Though the vigilance additional legal advisor argued that Sreelekha was not involved in the case, court said that it was their responsibility to enquire and take action if complaints have been filed. Since Government had incurred huge losses since she took over, her name should be added in the charge sheet, court said.
The court has asked for the report to be submitted by March 28.