Madras HC dismisses plea against Tamil Nadu free bus scheme

The Madras High Court on Monday, 5 October 2026, dismissed as withdrawn a writ petition that challenged the constitutional validity of Tamil Nadu's 'Vettri Payanam' free bus travel scheme for women. The First Division Bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan granted the petitioner, private bus operator N. Kalamani, liberty to pursue other legal remedies after her counsel withdrew the case. The judges had questioned how a scheme applicable to the entire state could be challenged based on her permits for just two routes.

Kalamani, a widow from Erode who operates buses on two routes, had argued that the scheme violates Article 14 (right to equality) by creating an uneven playing field for private operators. She claimed the government spends Rs 6,000 crore annually compensating state transport corporations for the scheme, which benefits an estimated 84.32 lakh women daily on 12,695 buses, while private operators receive no similar support. Her petition had sought an interim stay and a declaration that the scheme is unconstitutional.