Coimbatore: Two state transport corporation (TNSTC) buses were confiscated in Coimbatore, following court orders, after authorities failed to pay wage difference compensation to govt bus drivers.In the first case, M Balakrishnan, 36, of Irugur, joined service on a contractual basis at the Mettupalayam depot in 2015. Although rules state that employees should be regularised after completing one year of service, his job was regularised only after three years, in 2018. Seeking the payout of wage arrears caused by this delay, Balakrishnan filed a petition before the Coimbatore principal labour court. Hearing the case, the court ordered the transport department to pay him ₹2.13 lakh in compensation in May 2025. However, the department failed to disburse the amount and Balakrishnan filed an execution petition. On Monday, judge A K Babulal ordered the seizure of the govt bus operating en route 63A. Court staff subsequently attached the bus and parked it on the court premises.In a similar case, M Velmurugan, 45, from Gopalapuram in Theni district, joined the Coimbatore transport corporation as a driver in 2015 and was regularised in 2017. He also approached the Coimbatore principal labour court demanding his wage arrears. The court ruled in his favour and ordered the department to pay compensation of ₹2.42 lakh calculated on the basis of his service days. Due to non-compliance by the authorities, Velmurugan filed an execution petition before the principal labour court. Upon hearing the plea on Monday, judge A K Babulal issued orders to attach the govt bus operating en route number 55. Court officials executed the order and seized the vehicle.
