The Kerala High Court has issued a stay on the State government's directive that mandated headmasters to release school buses upon the request of the organizing committees of the Nava Kerala Yathra program.

Justice Devan Ramachandran issued this directive today in response to a plea filed by the parent of a 9th-grade student. The plea highlighted that according to the provisions outlined in the Kerala Motor Vehicle Rules and the permits granted to school buses, these buses are exclusively meant for transporting students and for educational purposes.

The Nava Kerala Yathra program aims to facilitate direct engagement with the public to address their grievances. However, the directive for employees in public service and aided institutions to partake in this program within their districts has led to disruptions in the functioning of public offices and educational institutions due to the focus on ensuring maximum public participation.

The petitioner argues that the contested order lacks jurisdiction and goes against the guidelines established in the Kerala Motor Vehicle Rules. They assert that adhering to this order would disrupt the regular operations of the school, potentially harming the students.

The plea has been moved through Advocate N. Anand.

Case Title: Philip Joseph v. State of Kerala & Ors.