The Delhi High Court on Monday took strong exception to the killing of innocent people by Blueline buses and asked the state government to prepare a detailed phase-out plan for the fleet that has claimed 94 lives this year, including seven on Sunday.

“Earlier, the court had given the government time till December 15 but after the Sunday accident, it has directed the government to submit a detailed phase-out plan for privately-owned Blueline Buses within four weeks from Monday,” said Anup Bhambani, amicus curiae appointed by the court.“The court, however, has given clear instructions that the phase-out should not affect the commuters. For every cancellation of Blueline bus permits, there should be a replacement,” Bhambani told reporters.

The court has also asked the state government to furnish details of Blueline buses being owned and operated by city legislators and parliamentarians.

“Earlier, it had asked the government to furnish details of such buses owned by police officials,” he said, adding that instead of just punishing the errant drivers, their owners should also feel the heat. “Just cancelling the licences of drivers will not be enough. The bus involved in fatal accidents should be impounded and sent to the workshop. And buses should not be released without a court order,” he said.

Summoning the government and private operators for an urgent hearing, a bench of justices Mukul Mudgal and Reva Khetrapal termed the growing incidents of fatal accidents as “shocking”. “It’s becoming shocking day by day and cannot get worse than this,” the bench said.