JUDGMENT : Indira Banerjee, J. 1. Pursuant to the photograph and news item published in the Chennai Edition of 'Times of India' dated 23.11.2017 of children hanging dangerously from the foot boards and even windows of buses operated by one of the Public Transport Corporations, this Court initiated this public interest litigation suo motu. 2. An affidavit has been filed on behalf of the Secretary to the Transport Department, State of Tamil Nadu, by one P.W.C.Davidar, Additional Chief Secretary to Transport Department, Government of Tamil Nadu. In the affidavit, it is stated that there are 8 Transport Corporations in the State of Tamil Nadu operating 20,776 buses. There are 8,560 mufusil services, 10604 Town/City Services and 528 Hill Area services, apart from other services. The Transport Corporation buses carry 1.93 crore passengers including school/college children everyday. 3. The buses operated are obviously not sufficient to meet the demand of the people, as would be evident from the photograph, on the basis of which these proceedings have been initiated. It is good that the Government of Tamil Nadu has extended 100% free travel to school children in the Transport Corporation buses. This was absolutely imperative to give meaningful effect to the right to education under Article 21A of the Constitution of India. However, merely providing free transport is not enough. The authorities concerned are also required to ensure the safety of children travelling in buses. 4. As per the affidavit affirmed on behalf of the first respondent, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation is operating 250 special bus services exclusively for women and children every day. Of the said 250 special bus services, there are 10 services plying exclusively on route 56C, between Broadway to Jothy Nagar, near Ennore. There are 199 other services through the same corridor. 5. However, it is difficult to accept that the school students can travel safely in buses on this route. This assertion is controverted by the photograph referred to above. There can be no doubt that children tend to be adventurous, they tend to be naughty and they sometimes try to travel on foot-boards or dangerously hang out of windows as a show of bravado. However, the photograph published in the news paper which has triggered this suo motu public interest litigation clearly shows that the bus was absolutely packed. 6. However, the photograph published in the news paper which has triggered this suo motu public interest litigation clearly shows that the bus was absolutely packed. 6. The number of buses exclusively for children operating during school hours will have to be increased. Such buses shall be exclusively for school children. Others might only be allowed to board the buses, if there is sufficient space after the children are accommodated, and in the event there is demand from children enroute, they would have to get down to make room for the children for whom the buses are operated. 7. The Transport authorities shall also ensure that children do not board over-crowded buses in a manner which is risky for their life and personal safety. 8. Mr.R.Y.George Williams, Advocate has drawn our attention to a subsequent news report of the death of two young children, who fell off an over-crowded bus. However, at least one of the reports indicate that the child accompanied by parents was going to attend a function and the child had got in dangerously to try and reserve seats for his parents. It was possibly the irresponsibility of the parents, which brought about their own misfortune of loss of their child. 9. Be that as it may, the authorities shall ensure that children are not allowed to board over-crowded buses and buses do not play with children hanging dangerously out of foot-boards and/or windows. The Government may consider starting special routes leading to and terminating at educational institutions only for the benefit of children. Writ petition is disposed of, with the observations made above. No costs.