Senior Recruiter Judicial intervention is necessary to protect passengers from being exploited during festive seasons. Every year, as festivals approach, private bus operators and other transport services hike fares, sometimes charging two to three times their usual rates. For people who have to travel to their hometowns, attending family celebrations becomes an expensive affair. This is particularly difficult for migrant workers, students and middle-income families who cannot afford such sudden increases. Transport operators cannot be allowed to treat festive demand as an opportunity for unchecked profiteering. Courts should direct regulatory authorities to establish reasonable fare ceilings and take strict action against operators violating them. Travelling home during festivals should not depend on how much money a person can afford to spend. Judicial intervention is essential to ensure fairness and accountability. (As told to Simran Shrivastava)