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KSRTC Suspends Conductor After Inquiry Finds Misconduct Over Gender Questioning

The suspension follows a police complaint and a Vigilance Wing finding that raise scrutiny of how Priyadarshini zero-fare claims are verified.

Overview

  • A Class 12 student alleges a KSRTC conductor publicly questioned her gender, refused to issue a zero-fare Priyadarshini ticket and later made her buy a paid ticket on a Guruvayur–Ernakulam limited-stop bus.
  • The student filed a formal police complaint at Paravur, prompting a preliminary probe by the KSRTC Vigilance Wing that found serious misconduct by the conductor.
  • KSRTC’s chairman ordered the conductor’s immediate suspension after the Vigilance Wing report, and the case has been reported by Asianet News and The News Minute.
  • The Priyadarshini Scheme gives women and transgender passengers free travel on designated KSRTC ordinary buses and requires conductors to record journeys by issuing zero-fare electronic tickets.
  • The incident highlights gaps in conductor training and verification procedures for zero-fare tickets and could lead to further disciplinary or legal action, though no additional outcomes have been reported yet.