Kerala’s Robin Bus Issue: The Complete Timeline of Events
The Robin bus issue has been in the news recently due to its ongoing legal battles with the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) in both Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The private bus service, which operates between Pathanamthitta in Kerala, and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, has been accused of violating permit rules on multiple occasions and has been fined to the tune of Rs 1.07 lakhs.
Updated daily, this article outlines the entire timeline of events surrounding the Robin bus issue in Kerala starting from the day the bus started its service.
The ongoing saga of the private bus Robin, which recently resumed operations on the Pathanamthitta-Coimbatore route, has been in the news since last month.
The Robin Bus issue made headlines once again as the private bus resumed service on November 17 after a long legal battle.
The latest Robin bus news is that the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) intercepted the bus at five locations since Saturday and imposed heavy fines.
Within just two days, the accumulated fines reached Rs 37,500, with the MVD levying Rs 7,500 at each of the five locations.
To make matters worse, on November 19, the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Department detained the bus and demanded a total payment of Rs 70,410, encompassing tax and fines for the 40 seats during an inspection at the Chavadi check post.
In response, Baby Gireesh, the owner of Robin Bus, asserted that the decision to impound the bus was a result of pressure from Kerala. He emphasized his determination to continue the service regardless of any crisis.
What is the Robin Bus Issue and How Did it Start
The Robin Bus news first came to the limelight in September when The Kerala Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) started stringent measures against inter-state contract carriage buses operating the state All India Tourist Permit (AITP).
Calling the operations of these buses illegal, the Kerala MVD started cracking down on private buses with AITP.
This is when the entire Robin bus issue started.
Robin was one of the buses that was detained during the crackdown on buses with AITP. While the officers did not discover any clear violations related to the bus permit, they opted to revoke the vehicle’s fitness certificate, citing minor infractions, and halted its operations.
Interestingly, some of the cited lapses included the utilization of a thinner wiper blade, a loosely fastened mud flap screw, and wear and tear of the rubber beneath the footrest.
The Ensuing Legal Battle
After 45 days, the bus successfully cleared the fitness test, and the service resumed on October 16.
However, upon reaching Ranni, it faced another setback. The Kerala MVD detained the bus on grounds of bus permit violations and impounded it.
This is when Baby Gireesh approached the court.
After 25 days, the Robin bus was released following the directive of the Ranni Judicial First Class Magistrate Court and it resumed service again.
Baby Gireesh even approached the High Court, challenging the MVD department’s seizure of the bus. The Kerala High Court Ruled in his favor and asked the MVD to not interrupt the bus service again.
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MVD Intercepts Robin Bus Again
On November 17, the bus started its operations again on the Pathanamthitta-Coimbatore route from a private bus stand at 5 a.m. However, it faced another setback when an MVD enforcement team intercepted the vehicle, issuing a ₹7,500 fine for alleged bus permit norm violations.
By November 18, the Kerala MVD intercepted the bus at least 5 times, imposing fines of Rs 7,500 at each of the five locations. In total, the Robin bus was fined a total of Rs 37,500 within just two days of resuming service.
“Motor Vehicle Department officials waited on the road and imposed fines on me as if seeking vengeance. Their actions extend beyond legal measures. Nevertheless, the service will operate today. The High Court has granted permission to resume the bus service, and if an order to suspend the service is issued by the court, I will comply,” says Baby Gireesh, owner of Robin Bus.
To make matters worse, on Sunday, November 19, the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Department detained the bus at the Chavadi checkpost in Coimbatore.
The Tamil Nadu MVD imposed a fine of Rs 70,410 and released the bus only after the payment was done. Baby Gireesh mentioned that the Tamil Nadu MVD collected Rs 65,410 as road tax and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000, citing a violation of bus permit rules.
The very same day, on its way back to Kerala, the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Department intercepted the bus again at the Walayar border. This time, a fine of Rs 10,000 for permit violation was imposed and the bus was also impounded.
It was only on Tuesday, November 21, that the Robin bus was released after the fine was paid.
What Does MVD Officials Say About the Issue?
According to the MVD officials, the Robin bus is functioning as a stage carrier, whereas it is actually a contract carrier. As a result, it is illegal for the bus to pick up and drop passengers at various points along the bus route.
In contrast, Baby Gireesh asserts that he holds an All India Tourists Permit, allowing him to operate services nationwide.
Did the Robin Bus Violate its Permit terms?
In a recent article, we discussed how Sections 82 to 85 (A) of the updated Central Motor Vehicle Rules were ‘waived’ to enable buses with AITP to operate on any route, allowing them to function much like stage-carriage buses.
So, if a bus is operating with an All India Tourist Permit (AITP) it can pick up and drop passengers along the way.
To know more about it, read the article titled Buses With AITP Can Have Multiple Pick Up Points? Explained!
Moreover, on August 4, 2023, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued a notification asking respective states to not levy any additional taxes/fees on buses operating with the All India Tourist Permit. (Find the notification below.)
So the reason why the Tamil Nadu MVD collected state tax from the Robin bus is a mystery.
So, the Robin bus has not violated the terms of its permit.
Baby Gireesh’s Entrepreneurial Journey
Baby Gireesh initiated Robin Travels in 1999, taking over the Erumely-Ernakulam Express bus service. Expanding with a fleet of 11 buses, the services covered Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, and Idukki districts.
In 2014, Gireesh was compelled to sell five buses following the government’s decision to take over long-route services. Further, due to pandemic-related losses, additional buses were sold during the COVID-19 breakdown.
In August, Gireesh recommenced bus services between Pathanamthitta and Coimbatore by acquiring a new bus. However, challenges with the MVD have arisen since the resumption of bus services.
Owner of Robin Bus Overwhelmed by Public Support
Over the past few days, the Robin bus has garnered public sympathy and support, encouraging for Gireesh to persist with the service.
Gireesh expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support he received from the people of Kerala.
“In addition to the encouraging messages on social media, individuals along the route greeted me with garlands and sweets, significantly boosting my confidence,” he shared.
Real Owner of Robin Bus [November 21]
In a surprising revelation, recent reports have debunked the prevailing notion regarding the ownership of the bus registered under the name Robin.
It turns out that the true owner is K Kishore, hailing from Kozhikode and also the proprietor of KP Travels.
As revealed by Kishore, he has entrusted Baby Gireesh with operational control through a power of attorney for the management of the contract carriage.
Read more about the real owner of the Robin bus here.
KSRTC’s Countermove: New Pathanamthitta-Coimbatore Service Launched [November 20]
Amid the Kerala MVD’s cat-and-mouse chase with the Robin bus, the KSRTC has swiftly introduced a competitive service on the Pathanamthitta-Coimbatore route.
The route map of the KSRTC Pathanamthitta-Coimbatore bus is Ranni, Erumely, Kanjirappally, Erattupetta, Thodupuzha, Muvattupuzha, Angamaly, Thrissur, Vadakkencherry and Palakkad.
The air-conditioned Volvo bus has been scheduled to start half an hour before the Robin bus timming. While the scheduled departure time of the Robin bus is 5AM from Pathanamthitta, the KSRTC bus will depart at 4:30 AM.
On its way back to Pathanamthitta, the KSRTC bus will depart from Coimbatore at 4.30 PM.
Robin Bus Issue Latest Update: Defending Lawyer Passes Away [November 20]
In the latest Robin Bus news update, High Court lawyer Dinesh Menon, aged 57, has tragically passed away. He suffered a fatal heart attack while en route to the High Court in connection with the inter-state service of Robin Bus. Dinesh Menon had been actively involved in handling the related litigation on behalf of the bus owner, Girish.
KSRTC Moves Kerala High Court [November 20]
The KSRTC took legal action by filing a petition with the Kerala High Court on Monday, November 20. The petition aimed to restrict the operation of All India Tourist Permit private buses and challenge specific provisions of the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023.
Kerala MVD Slaps Fine on Robin Bus Once Again [November 23]
On November 22, after the bus was released from the Tamil Nadu MVD and finally resumed its service from Coimbatore to Pathanamthitta, the Kerala MVD intercepted the bus again.
The Kerala MVD detained the bus at Mylapra, amid a substantial police presence and imposed a fine of Rs 7500 before allowing the vehicle to proceed.
Notably, the interception occurred at an unusual hour, with MVD officials conducting the inspection at 2 AM (refer to the challan below). This is probably one of those rare instances when MVD officials take their duty extremely seriously.
Adding to the intrigue, the challan accompanying the fine mentions the challan date as May 15. We have reached out to the Robin bus team to learn more about this and will provide an update once we receive a response.
To be honest, as we follow the unfolding events, one can’t help but wonder about the MVD’s scrutiny of the Robin Motors bus. The repeated interceptions raise questions, and there’s a growing speculation – could personal biases be swaying their actions?
Will Continue to Hound Robin Bus, says Kerala Minister [November 23]
On Wednesday, Kerala Minister for Industries P Rajeev stated that actions against the private bus, Robin, would persist if it operates without the necessary permits.
“The motor vehicle department in Tamil Nadu impounded the bus due to its illegal operation. People often commend Tamil Nadu for its business-friendly approach. If there were no issues, why would they seize the bus? Legal compliance is essential for the service to proceed,” emphasized the minister.
Robin Bus News Update: Baby Gireesh Gets Shrestha Karma Puraskaram [November 23]
Robin bus owner has been awarded Shrestha Karma Puraskaram by the Mahatma Gandhi National Foundation in Kerala today.
Ready why Baby Gireesh was awarded with the prestigious award here.
Robin Bus Impounded by Kerala MVD Once Again [November 24]
In the latest development of the Robin Bus news, the Kerala Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) executed another seizure, this time around 2 am today, November 24.
This drastic action was taken due to continuous violations of the permit. As per MVD officials, the bus violated its terms of permit by picking up and dropping off passengers at different locations.
Click here to learn why the Robin bus was impounded once again on November 24.
Kerala High Court: All India Tourist Buses Cannot Operate as Stage Carriage [November 26]
In a preliminary ruling, the Kerala High Court declared that vehicles operating with the All India Tourist Permit cannot function as stage carriages. This means that these buses cannot pick up and drop passengers along the way of their route.
The judgment, issued by Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh, followed a petition filed by tourist bus operators contesting fines imposed by the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD).
This ruling dealt a blow to tourist bus operators, including the proprietors of the contentious Robin bus, which had initiated interstate operations under the All India Tourist Permit.
However, as ruled by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana in 2022 in a similar case involving Indo Canadian, a bus with All India Tourist Permit can pick up and drop passengers much like stage carriage, provided that all the passengers are booked as a contract.
The bench of justice headed by Raj Mohan Singh noted that since Indo canadian had already prepared the list of passengers before the journey, “all the passengers were included in the contract“. It’s just that the passengers were picked up from different points for their convenience.
Moreover, they didn’t charge passengers for different journey stages.
Baby Gireesh Arrested for Check Bounce [November 27]
The Robin case is taking new directions almost every day. Today, owner Gireesh has been arrested by the Pala police for a case that was registered against him in 2012.
The case was registered against Gireesh because of a cheque issued by him bounced. He was released on bail.
To learn more about why Robin’s Gireesh was arrested and what he has to say about it, click here.
Kerala MVD Cancels Robin Bus’ Permit [November 27]
The Kerala MVD, on Wednesday, canceled Robin buses’ All India Tourist Permit for repeated violations.
The bus was eventually seized as it consistently flouted these rules. A case was registered against the vehicle by the Kerala Motor Vehicles Department, leading to the cancellation of its permit.
Learn why the Robin bus’ permit was canceled by the Kerala MVD in detail here.
Kerala HC Puts Stay on Permit Cancelation [November 30]
The Kerala High Court temporarily halted the permit revocation order until December 18.
The interim order, issued by Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh, came after Kishor, a bus owner from Kozhikode, filed the petition. The court will review the petitions related to the Robin bus on December 18.
Read to know more about why the Kerala HC put a stay on Robin’s permit cancelation here.
Robin Bus Returned to Owner Baby Gireesh on Court’s Order [December 23]
After almost a month of being impounded and kept in custody at the police AR camp in Pathanamthitta, Robin bus owner Baby Gireesh finally succeeded in releasing the bus from the MVD following an order by the Pathanamthitta Judicial First Class Magistrate Court.
The Court directed the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) to return the bus to Baby Gireesh, after he paid Rs 82,000 as a fine for traffic violations.
Robin Bus Resumes Services – MVD Intercepts it Twice [December 26]
Following a month-long hiatus, the Robin Bus resumed operations on December 26. The bus started its journey from the Pathanamthitta private bus stand to Coimbatore at 5 AM with 41 passengers.
But minutes after the journey started, Kerala MVD officials intercepted the bus twice at Mylapra and Anikkad near Thodupuzha.
After meticulously examining all documents, including the passenger list, the bus received clearance to proceed with its journey.
Despite these interventions and warnings from the MVD regarding adherence to permit norms, Baby Gireesh is hopeful that the arrival of a new Transport Minister could make things easier.
Robin Bus Issue 2024: MVD Officials Allege Death Threats By Baby Gireesh [January 2024]
The ongoing feud between Robin Bus and Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) officials has escalated again on 2024 as two Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspectors (AMVIs) from the Pathanamthitta Regional Transport Office filed a police complaint alleging death threats from bus operator Baby Gireesh.
Gireesh has been summoned for questioning at the Pathanamthitta District Police Chief’s office based on the complaint.
Baby Gireesh, in response, sees these complaints as a retaliatory move by the MVD following legal setbacks.
He believes this could be in response to the High Court’s dismissal of a petition seeking a stay on the order allowing Robin Bus’s operation.
Despite these challenges, Gireesh affirms his commitment to appear for questioning.
Click here to read how the Robin Bus Controversy took a new turn in 2024 with alleged death threats.
Read the Robin Bus Issue in Tamil, Telegu, Kannada, or Malayalam, by clicking on the flag icon on the bottom left side and choosing your preferred language.
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