IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN THURSDAY, THE 26TH MAY 2011 / 5TH JYAISHTA 1933 WP(C).No. 14256 of 2011(F) ------------------------- PETITIONER : --------------------- K.MOIDEENKUTTY, S/O.MOYINKUTTY, BABU NIVAS, KODAKKADAN HOUSE, NEDIYIRIPPU, KONDOTTY P.O., MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.SAJU J. VALLYARA RESPONDENT : ---------------------- THE SECRETARY, REGIONAL TRANSPORT AUTHORITY, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT, PIN-676505. BY GOVT. PLEADER SRI. BASANT BALAJI THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 26/05/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: Mn P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. --------------------------- W.P.(C) No. 14256 OF 2011 -------------------------- Dated this the 26th day of May, 2011 J U D G M E N T The petitioner is a stage carriage operator operating a stage carriage on the route Kozhikode-Palakkad on the strength of a permit issued in the year 2000. The time schedule in respect of the service was fixed by the order dated 24.4.2000. The petitioner has submitted Ext.P1 representation before the respondent seeking revision of timings by reducing the running time. The petitioner contends that though other stage carriage operators including the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation are operating stage carriages on the same route with a running time of 3 hours and 40 minutes, the running time of the petitioner's vehicle is 4 hours and 05 minutes as a result of which there is heavy competition resulting in loss to the petitioner. It is also alleged that buses run by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation do not keep time and therefore to avoid competition and to ensure the safety of passengers, the petitioner may be allowed to operate the service with a running time of 3 hours and 40 minutes. 2. Sri.Basant Balaji, the learned Government Pleader appearing for the respondent submitted on instructions that if the WPC No.14256/2011 2 original of Ext.P1 representation has been received it will be forwarded to the Motor Vehicles Inspector for enquiry and report and as soon as the report is received, the respondent will consider the same and pass appropriate orders thereon. In such circumstances, I dispose of the writ petition with a direction to the respondent to take a final decision on Ext.P1 representation expeditiously and in any event within four months from the date on which the petitioner produces a certified copy of this judgment before him. The respondent shall before taking a final decision in the matter, afford the petitioner and the other stage carriage operators including the KSRTC who are operating on the same route/sectors thereof an opportunity of being heard. P.N.RAVINDRAN, (JUDGE) vps WPC No.14256/2011 3 WPC No.14256/2011 4