WP(C) 2716/2011 BEFORE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE P K MUSAHARY Heard Mr.P K Roy Choudhury, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. R.Tati, learned counsel appearing on behalf of Mr. A K Bhuyan, learned standing counsel IWT, Assam. The petitioner was settled with Dibru-Kachari-Orium Ghat Ferry Service f or the year 2010-11. The said lease was to expire on 31.3.2011 and before expiry of the said lease period the petitioner applied for extension/ direct settlemen t vide representation dated 10.3.2011 before the respondent No.1, the Principal Secretary to the Government of Assam, Transport Department to make up his loss. The said representation has not yet been considered and it is still lying unatte nded. It has been further submitted by Mr.Roy Choudhury that although the leas e period of the aforesaid Ferry Ghat has been expired, no fresh tender notice ha s been issued for settlement of the same and as such, in the revenue interest of the department, there is no difficulty in extending the lease period for a li mited period till regular settlement is made. It is the admitted position that t he petitioner is running the aforesaid Ferry without any valid order from the c ompetent authority since the lease period expired on 31.5.2011. If it is correct that the NIT has not yet been issued for regular settlement, it is necessary to take immediate steps for regular settlement of the said Ferry Ghat in the inter est of the Department. In view of the above, I dispose of this writ petition with a direct ion to the respondent No.1, Principal Secretary to the Govt. of Assam, Transport Department to consider and dispose of the aforesaid representation filed by the petitioner on 10.3.2011 by a speaking order within 15 days from the date of rec eipt of the certified copy of this order. The order so passed be communicated to the petitioner. Till disposal of the representation the position of the petitioner as re gards running of the aforesaid Ferry Ghat shall not be disturbed.