HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.1072 OF 2011 ORDER: The petitioner is the owner of Goods Carriage Vehicle bearing No.AP-05-TT-5566. It was seized on 03-01-2011, on the ground that it was over-loaded. The petitioner made a request to the Assistant Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Nandigama, Krishna District, the respondent herein, to compound the offence. Placing reliance upon the order, dated 09-11-2005, passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in W.P. (Civil) No.136 of 2003, the respondent passed an order, dated 11-01-2011, refusing to compound the offence. On the other hand, he has suspended the permit issued for the vehicle, for a period of 120 days. The petitioner feels aggrieved by the same. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Government Pleader for Transport. 3. It no doubt true that the violation alleged against the vehicle was compoundable. However, the respondent has not compounded the offence, and has passed the impugned order, suspending the permit. The allegation is that vehicle is carrying excess load. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Rules made thereunder, provides for levy of overload fine of Rs.1,000/- per ton on the excess load. The suspension of the permit of the vehicle, for a period of 120 days, would not only immobilize the vehicle, but also render the persons, dependent upon it, unemployed. The penalty in the form of suspension for a period of 3 months is totally disproportionate for the minor lapse, on the part of the petitioner. 4. Hence, the Writ Petition is partly allowed, restricting the suspension of the permit of the vehicle of the petitioner for a period of 30 days from 26-11-2010. The petitioner shall be entitled to operate the vehicle on payment of the overload penalty. There shall be no order as to costs. ____________________ L. NARASIMHA REDDY, J January 29, 2011. KTL