Observing that the recruitment process for posts of drivers and conductors undertaken by the Navi Mumbai transport committee (NMTC) was a scam, the Bombay high court has directed the chairman of the committee to file a reply on a public interest litigation (PIL) alleging favouritism shown to certain candidates.

A division bench headed by justice Ranjana Desai was hearing a PIL filed by four persons, who had appeared for the written examinations held to fill up vacant posts for drivers and conductors for buses plied by Navi Mumbai municipal corporation and the transport committee.

According to the petition, the transport committee had since 2006 issued advertisements on three occasions calling for applications to fill up the posts.

"After thousands of candidates appear for the examinations, the entire recruitment process is cancelled by the committee without giving any valid reason. Finally in 2010 the committee appointed persons of their choice on contractual basis," it said.

The petition further alleged that the candidates appointed had failed in written exams held by the committee.

"Not only have the candidates spent money to come from various places across the state, the corporation and committee has so far incurred expenditure of over Rs four lakh in the entire recruitment process," it claimed.

"This is a scam. Prima facie it appears to be illegal and wrong. The corporation and committee is trying to bring certain people through back door entry and favour them," justice Desai said.

Stating that if illegality is proved the committee would be taken to task, the court directed the chairman of the transport committee to file his reply to the allegations within three weeks.

The petitioners are Raghunandan Sapkale, Deepak Koli, Nanabhau Kachare and Deepak Baghul.