THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE GODA RAGHURAM WRIT PETITION NO. 6347 OF 2007 Between : The Airport Area Taxi Owners Society, Vislakhapatnam … Petitioner And : The National Airports Authority of India, Chennai and Others … Respondents THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE GODA RAGHURAM WRIT PETITION NO. 6347 OF 2007 ORAL ORDER : The writ petition is misconceived. The petitioner-Taxi Owners Society operating in Visakhapatnam assails the tender notification dated 20.2.2007 issued by the 2nd respondent. The tender notification, inter alia, invites sealed tenders for grant of license for car rentals at Visakhapatnam Airport. This license is to be granted pursuant to a scheme of pre-paid taxis sought to be introduced by the respondents in the Visakhapatnam Airport. Members of the petitioner-society are claimed to be owners and drivers of taxi vehicles who are, inter alia, plying their taxis in the vicinity of Visakhapatnam Airport since 1985. They assert that if the pre-paid taxi system is introduced in the Airport, in particular Visakhapatnam Airport and licenses are granted in furtherance of the impugned notification inviting tenders, they will loose their livelihood and the right to the occupation of plying taxis, including at the Visakhapatnam Airport. The petitioner has failed to establish any right constitutional or legal, which enables its members a guaranteed right to unhindered operation of taxis within the Visakhapatnam Airport area. The respondents are instrumentalities of the State and as such obligated as an affirmative aspect of the State to ensure that it has processes which are beneficent to the traveling public which use the Airport. In furtherance of such objects and obligations the respondents are apparently introducing a scheme of pre-paid taxi service and have invited tenders for such purpose. All those persons who are eligible as per the tender notification, including the members of the petitioner-society, are at liberty to participate in the tender process by submitting their bids or tenders. There is no denial of equal opportunity subject to qualification. Petitioners have not shown that they have an uncanalised right to ply taxis from the Airport terminal. There is no legal basis for the relief sought. There are no merits in the writ petition. The writ petition is accordingly dismissed at the stage of admission. No order as to costs. Dated: 29.03.2007 ----------------------------- Pvsn/Tsnr Justice G. Raghuram