Kochi: The state government would abide by the Supreme Court order directing to dismiss all empanelled drivers within three months and a plan of action to deal with the crisis will be taken at the earliest, Transport minister A. K. Saseendran said on Wednesday.
"The further course of action will be taken after conducting detailed discussions with the Transport department and the KSRTC management," the minister said shortly after the apex court verdict.
Earlier, the Supreme Court refused to stay the order of the High Court directing the corporation to dismiss all 1,565-empanelled drivers and appoint new ones in their place from a 2013 Public Service Commission rank list.The apex court, though, allowed three months time for this so as to not seriously affect the daily service operations.
Earlier, the KSRTC had approached the Supreme Court against the High Court verdict on April 9 to dismiss all empanelled drivers by April 30.
Meanwhile, the empanelled drivers stare at a bleak future as the private sector could absorb only a "few". The various bus organisations, which promised jobs for empanelled conductors who earlier faced a similar situation, cite that there are only a few vacancies for drivers.
"It will be difficult to accommodate them as we've only few vacancies. For instance, I've two buses and already employing three drivers. However, we'll try to take them whereever we've vacancies," said Lawrence Babu, general secretary, Kerala State Private Bus Operators Association.
An empanelled driver is paid Rs 500 for a single duty, almost half that enjoyed by permanent drivers, while the driver of a private bus will get a minimum Rs 800.
