WP(C) 2266/2008 BEFORE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE T.NANDAKUMAR SINGH Heard Mr. NA Singh, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner as well as Mr. R. Tanti, learneds counsel appearing for the respondents. Taking into consideration of the innocuous prayer made by the petitioner in the present writ petition, this writ petition is taken up for disposal at th is stage. Admittedly the Dibru-Kachar Oriumghat Ferry Service had been settled w ith the present petitioner at the bid amount of Rs. 12,20,000/- for the period o f 2007-2008i.e. up to 31.3.08. While the petitioner was running the Ferry servic e because of the heavy flood, Assam Bandh etc. etc.there was very littlepassenge r traffic by ferry service and as a result thereof the petitioner has incurred h eavy loss. The petitioner also filed representation dated 7.11.07 to the Director, Inland Water Transport Ulubari, Guwahati for considering the case of the petitio ner sympathetically and also to grant extension of the term of the ferry servic e for another one year to recoup the losses. The copy of the said representation dated 7.11.07 is available at Annexure-II to the present writ petition and it i s self explanatory. Mr. NA Singh appearing for the petitioner also strenuously c ontended that there is provision in the Control and Management of Ferries Rules , 1968 for direct settlement of the ferry service or by negotiation taking into consideration of the heavy loss incurred by the sitting ferry operator. He also further contended that since the present petitioner is the sitting ferry operat or of Dibru-Kachar Oriumghat Ferry Service who had incurred heavy loss due to t he feavy flood and Assam Bandh etc. etc. during the period of 2007-2008, his ca se be considered for direct settlement of the said ferry service by negotiation. Mr. R. Tanti, learned counsel appearing for the respondents contends tha t the authority had started the process for settlement of the said ferry service by passing NIT dated 19.5.08 under which tender will be received up to 2-00 pm on 4.6.08. He further contends that the tender process has not yet completed. Taking into consideration of the submission of the learned counsel appea ring for the petitioner as well as Mr. R. Tanti, learned counsel appearing for t he respondent, this Court is of the considered view that this writ petition coul d be disposed of with a simple direction inasmuch as the Director, Inland Water Transport, Assam, Ulubari, Guwahati-7 is duty bound to consider and dispose of t he representation dated 7.11.07 filed by the petitioner. Accordingly this writ p etition is disposed of by directing the Director of Inland Water Transport, Ulub ari, Guwahati to consider and dispose of the said representation dated 7.11.07 f iled by the petitioner by passing a reasoned order as soon as possible. It is a lso made clear that till the representation filed by the petitioner on 7.11.07 i s considered and disposed of the tender process of the said Dibru-Kachar Oriumgh at Ferry Service for the term 2008-2009 shall not be finalized. With the above observation and direction this writ petition is allowed.