Thiruvananthapuram: 2,107 dismissed empanelled Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) drivers will return to work as contract workers from today (July 2). The KSRTC, on Sunday, decided to rehire the terminated drivers as services in the state stood disrupted.  Over thousands of services were cancelled on Sunday and Monday, which included 215 low-floor JNNURM schedules.

Following these crises, KSRTC officials and transport secretary KR Jyothilal decided to reappoint the terminated workers.  The Kerala high court terminated the empanelled drivers on April 8 as it observed that keeping empanelled employees would challenge the employment of those who have passed the written test to become KSRTC employees.

Job aspirants in the PSC rank list had approached the high court requesting for the system of appointing temporary workers to be amended. They petitioned that temporary workers can be quickly terminated under the system, leaving them without any job guarantee.

The Kerala high court had terminated 3,872 KSRTC employees citing that these employees will challenge the employment of aspirants who have passed PSC exams.

Earlier, an empanelled KSRTC employee tried to commit suicide in front of the secretariat after the corporation cleared the location of pandals that were installed to hold a strike ahead of Attukal Pongala. Alappuzha native Diniya attempted suicide to protest the removal of her pandal.