IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN TUESDAY, THE 8TH FEBRUARY 2011 / 19TH MAGHA 1932 WP(C).No. 2733 of 2011(N) ------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- GEORGE THOMAS, ALUNKAL HOUSE, MOOKKANNOOR PO, ALUVA. BY ADV. SRI.P.DEEPAK RESPONDENT(S): --------------- THE REGIONAL TRANSPORT AUTHORITY, ERNAKULAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, ERNAKULAM, PIN-682 030. BY GOVT. PLEADER SRI.BASANT BALAJI. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 08/02/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: P.N. RAVINDRAN, J. ------------------------------- W.P.(C) No.2733 OF 2011 ------------------------------- Dated this the 8th day of February, 2011 J U D G M E N T The petitioner is a stage carriage operator operating a stage carriage on the route Perumbavoor-Kalady Plantation via Kalady and Majapra on the strength of Ext.P1 regular permit. The said permit was initially valid till 12.1.2010 and was later renewed from 13.1.2010 to 12.1.2015. After the permit was renewed, the petitioner moved the respondent for variation of the permit by curtailment of the route. By Ext.P2 order passed on 16.9.2009, the respondent rejected the said application on the ground that the curtailment sought is by 32.1 kilometers. Aggrieved thereby, the petitioner filed an appeal before the State Transport Appellate Tribunal. By Ext.P4 order passed on 6.11.2010, the appeal was rejected in view of section 80(3) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which stipulates that the distance covered by variation shall not exceed 24 kilometers. Exts.P2 and P4 have attained finality. The petitioner thereafter submitted Ext.P5 application dated 15.1.2011 for curtailment of another section of route having a length of 18.5 kilometers. It is stated that the said application is pending before the respondent. In this writ petition, the petitioner seeks expeditious disposal of Ext.P5 application. W.P.(C) No.2733 of 2011 2 2. When the writ petition came up for hearing on 27.1.2011, the learned Government Pleader was directed to ascertain and submit whether Ext.P5 application is in accordance with section 80(3) of the Motor Vehicles Act. Today, when the writ petition came up for admission-hearing, the learned Government Pleader on instructions submitted that the respondent has called for a report from the Regional Transport Officer, Aluva, within whose jurisdiction the petitioner is operating the stage carriage and that as soon as the report is received from the said officer, the respondent will take a final decision on Ext.P5 application. In the light of the said submission, I dispose of the writ petition with a direction to the respondent to consider and pass orders on Ext.P5 application expeditiously and in any event within one month from the date on which the Regional Transport Officer, Aluva furnishes the report. The Regional Transport Officer, Aluva shall furnish the report called for by the Regional Transport Authority, Ernakulam, within two weeks from the date on which the petitioner produces a copy of this judgment before him. P.N. RAVINDRAN, JUDGE. nj.