Tamil Nadu News

Madras HC on ‘Vettri Payanam’ Scheme

October 7 , 2026 12 hrs 0 min 44 0

The Madras High Court dismissed a writ petition challenging the constitutional validity of Tamil Nadu’s ‘Vettri Payanam’ scheme.
The scheme offers no-fare travel to 84.32 lakh women daily on 12,695 government buses across Tamil Nadu, from 2 October 2026.
The petitioner, argued that free travel only on government buses would violate Article 14 (Right to Equality) by affecting a level playing field in bus transport.
The petitioner also cited the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, arguing that collecting fares from passengers was mandatory.
The court noted that the petitioner challenged only the Rule 110 announcement in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and the related Information and Public Relations Department release, but not the subsequent Government Order introducing the scheme.