NEW DELHI
At least 37 drivers at Delhi Transport Corporation’s (DTC) Wazirabad depot were issued show-cause notices on Wednesday for allegedly obstructing bus operations between September 16 and 22, according to a statement issued by the depot manager.
The disciplinary action, which includes blacklisting of eight drivers, comes amid an ongoing strike by DTC bus drivers that began on September 15 seeking better pay, paid leave, and social security benefits.
The drivers who received the notices have been directed to present their case in writing within 24 hours, failing which the depot could conduct an internal inquiry and arrive at an ex parte decision.
Several drivers have returned to work fearing termination while others have reportedly fled to their home towns fearing a government crackdown.
“At least eight drivers were blacklisted, which could result in termination and a permanent blot on their service records. Others were told that if they did not return to work, they would be dismissed,” said a protesting driver requesting anonymity.
Despite the show-cause notices being issued, the DTC Karamchari Ekta Union has called for a full strike by all contractual employees on September 28
‘Mandatory attendance’
Meanwhile, the DTC has issued a notice mandating compulsory attendance. At the Rohini depot, employees have been asked to report for duty between September 25 and 28, while at the Kalkaji depot, staff have been asked to report for work between September 24 and 30.
Responding to the notice, Lalit Chaudhary, president of the union, said, “We won’t back down. We will continue our strike.”
Employed by seven private companies that operate Delhi’s cluster buses, the drivers currently earn ₹862 per day with no paid leave or social security net.
The Delhi police have detained hundreds of drivers after registering FIRs over multiple incidents of alleged vandalism and mischief under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Prevention for Damage to Public Property Act. However, the accused drivers claimed that they have been falsely charged
HC steps in
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought to know from the Delhi government why provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act had not been invoked against the striking DTC employees.
A Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia also asked the Delhi government to review the situation and take appropriate steps to ensure that DTC buses continue to ply across the Capital.
The transport crisis has caused massive disruptions for Delhi’s commuters, hitting daily wagers, domestic workers, and students the hardest. To mitigate the impact, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) deployed eight to ten additional trains to run 20 to 50 extra daily trips between September 16 and 22 to handle the passenger surge.
Published – September 24, 2026 01:09 am IST
