IMM's regulation for students over 30 is back in court
The regulation providing transportation discounts for students over the age of 30, which was passed by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Assembly with CHP votes, has been taken to court. AKP Group Spokesperson Murat Türkyılmaz and Council Member Muhammet Kaynar have filed an application with the Istanbul Administrative Court requesting the cancellation and a stay of execution of the decision.
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The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Assembly decision adopted on September 11, 2025, which includes a regulation for transportation discounts for students over the age of 30, has been taken to court once again. An application was filed with the court regarding the decision on students who have turned 30 benefiting from transportation discounts.
AKP Group Spokesperson Murat Türkyılmaz and AKP Council Member Muhammet Kaynar filed a lawsuit at the Istanbul Administrative Court, requesting the cancellation of the decision and a stay of execution for the duration of the trial.
‘CONTRARY TO THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY AND DAMAGES FAIR BALANCE’
In the petition submitted to the court, it was stated that the decision taken by the IMM Assembly was “damaging to the fair balance and contrary to the principle of equality.” The petition recalled that students benefit from discounted tariffs in urban transportation, but that the discount granted to students over 30 was restricted by a decision dated September 13, 2020.
It was stated that with this regulation, students who have turned 30 were only granted a 10 percent discount right.
A CONTINUATION OF THE PREVIOUS CANCELLATION
The petition included information that in a previous lawsuit filed by AKP Group Spokesperson Türkyılmaz, the Istanbul 2nd Administrative Court had canceled the decision on July 11, 2024.
However, it was noted that despite this cancellation decision, the IMM Assembly adopted a new decision with similar content during its session on September 11, 2025.
The following statements were used in the new decision:
“Students who have turned 30 and are pursuing master's degrees or higher education shall benefit from the discount provided to students under 30, provided that they prove (via an e-government printout) that they are actively enrolled in education and are not registered as employees or business owners/partners within the Social Security Institution.”
‘THE DECISION IS CONTRARY TO LAW’
In the petition, it was argued that this regulation does not align with the principles of equality and equal opportunity, and that it creates discrimination among students in the same position.
For these reasons, the cancellation of the IMM Assembly decision was requested, along with a request for a stay of execution.