1 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 21.03.2011 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.VENKATARAMAN W.P.(MD).No.3240 of 2011 R.Jeyakumar : Petitioner Vs. The Regional Transport Officer, The Regional Transport Office (Madurai North),Theni. : Respondent PRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent to return the driving licence of the petitioner bearing D.L.No.TN-60-19920000982 to him forthwith. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Arunachalam For Respondent : Mr.P.Thilak Kumar Additional Government Pleader O R D E R Mr.P.Thilak Kumar, learned Additional Government Pleader, takes notice on behalf of the respondent. By consent, the Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal at the stage of admission itself. 2. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondent. 3. The petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition for a Mandamus, directing the respondent to return his driving licence bearing D.L.No.TN-60-19920000982 to him forthwith. 4. The case of the petitioner is that he is working as a driver in the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Madurai) Limited from 24.05.2008. On 04.01.2011, when he was driving the bus, he has slowed down the bus in order to stop it at the bus stop. While so, the front glass before the driver seat was suddenly self-busted. He applied the brake and tried to stop the bus. But, however, before the bus could be stopped, two pedestrians, who were walking on the road, ran towards the right side of the road and hit by the front side corner of the bus. Later, they have died at hospital. A First Information Report was registered in Crime No.9 of 2011. His driving licence was also seized by the respondent. Seizing of such driving licence by the respondent is outside the purview of his power. Hence, the petitioner has come up with the present Writ Petition for the https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 2 reliefs stated earlier. 5. Considering the limited scope of the matter and also considering the fact that the respondent has no authority to seize the driving licence, as held by a Division Bench of this Court, I am inclined to direct the respondent to return the driving licence to the petitioner. Accordingly, the respondent is directed to return the driving licence D.L.No.TN-60-19920000982 to the petitioner forthwith. 6. The Writ Petition stands ordered accordingly. No costs. Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CO) /True Copy/ Sub Assistant Registrar To The Regional Transport Officer, The Regional Transport Office (Madurai North), Theni. +1cc to Mr.S.Arunachalam Advocate, Sr.No.7194 Order made in W.P.(MD).No.3240 of 2011 Dated:- 21.03.2011 sml SMA/25.03.2011/3C/2P https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/