Suresh Vishnu V vs Regional Transport Authority, Palakkad

Murali Purushothaman, J

The petitioner is the holder of Ext.P1 regular permit on the route Kozhinjampara - Kozhinjampara in respect of the stage carriage bearing Registration No.KL 08-Y 3971 and the said permit was valid upto 21.12.2022. The petitioner has submitted Ext.P2 application for renewal of permit. Since the said vehicle is a 2003 model vehicle, the petitioner submitted Ext.P5 application for its replacement with vehicle bearing Registration No.KL-10-Y 1955. The petitioner states that Ext.P5 application is not considered by the 1st respondent on the ground that the current records of the old vehicle bearing Registration No.KL 08-Y 3971 are not produced.

The learned counsel for the petitioner relying on Exts.P7 and P8 judgments, submits that, there cannot be any justification to insist on the production of records of outgoing vehicle in the case of replacement, particularly when the petitioner is willing to produce the current records in respect of incoming vehicle.

The learned Government Pleader submits that the petitioner has to pay the dues payable as tax or contribution to the welfare funds etc., if any, in respect of the old vehicle.

The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that, if there are any dues, the same will be cleared.

Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of with the following directions:-

i) The petitioner will clear the entire dues, if any, in respect of the old vehicle bearing Registration No.KL-08-Y 3971, within a period of two weeks.

ii) The 1st respondent shall consider Ext.P2 application for renewal within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment and Ext.P5 application for replacement thereafter, expeditiously, without insisting for the current records in respect of the basic vehicle bearing Registration No.KL-08-Y 3971.