Sacked MTC driver ordered to be reinstated

The dismissal of an MTC bus driver following a mishap in which the vehicle rolled down from the Anna Flyover here in June 2012, injuring about 40 passengers has been set aside by the Labour Commission.
Labour Commissioner K.Sunderrajan directed the MTC authorities to re-instate driver T Prasad, who was suspended and dismissed from service after an internal inquiry.
The bus No.17M rolled down the flyover on June 27, 2012 after it hit the sidewall.
The MTC management issued memo to Prasad and the internal inquiry held him responsible for the incident due to negligence and rash driving.
The driver in his explanation said the accident occurred only because of the overcrowd and the poor maintenance of the bus. But the management rejected his explanation dismissed him from service.

When the matter went to the Labour Commissioner, the driver's counsel pointed out there were several lapses on the part of the management.
It said that during the internal enquiry, the authorities did not record the statements of the injured passengers. There was also no independent witnesses.
The decision to remove the driver was taken on hearsay evidence, the Labour Commissioner held and directed his reinstatement.