Hyderabad: The Telangana Mazdoor Union, the RTC’s recognised union, stopped most buses at the Uppal depot to protest the transfer of a conductor, Ms Ratna Kumari, for misbehaving with a woman passenger.
Uppal depot manager N. Saraswathi, who wrote to the regional manager (Hyderabad), to transfer the conductor, said Ms Ratna Kumari had allegedly misbehaved with a passenger on August 10 on a bus on the Medipally-Afzalgunj route.
“The passenger, Saritha, lodged a complaint that the conductor had abused her and pulled her by her plait due to which she fell down and suffered injuries. Based on an inquiry, it was decided to transfer Ms Kumari,” she said.
The union took offence and stopped almost all buses; of 281 trips, only 15 had been completed by 7 pm. Ms Saraswathi requisitioned buses from other routes to fill the gap.
TMU leader Saiyulu said the dispute was only over the return of change and not misbehaviour. He said the conductor is willing to apologise, but the RTC had taken action before that could happen.
