IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD THE HON’BLE MRS. JUSTICE T.MEENA KUMARI AND THE HON’BLE MS. JUSTICE G.ROHINI WRIT PETITION NO. 1896 OF 2008 Dated : February 4, 2008 Between: Raminder Singh Petitioner AND The Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Sanga Reddy, Medak District and another. Respondents THE HON’BLE MRS. JUSTICE T.MEENA KUMARI AND THE HON’BLE MS. JUSTICE G.ROHINI WRIT PETITION NO. 1896 OF 2008 ORAL ORDER: (per THE HON’BLE MRS. JUSTICE T.MEENA KUMARI) Seeking a writ of mandamus declaring action of the second respondent in seizing the petitioner’s vehicle bearing Registration No.MH02/XA/1191 vide VCR No. 2606656 dated 29.1.2008, as illegal and arbitrary and consequently to direct the respondents to release the said vehicle to the petitioner, pending enquiry, the petitioner filed this writ petition. Petitioner is the registered owner of the above said vehicle and had been operating the same as a contract carriage for public transport. The vehicle was engaged for five days from Mumbai to Hyderabad. On 28.1.2008, it started from Mumbai and reached boarder of Andhra Pradesh at 5.45 p.m. on 29.1.2008. In the meanwhile, the second respondent inspected the vehicle and seized the same under Check Report No. 2606656 on the ground that the vehicle was found plying without tax for Andhra Pradesh and without Permit to ply in Andhra Pradesh, the names of passengers were not tallying with the that of the list and the driving licence had expired on 23.1.2007. Consequently, the said vehicle was kept Zaheerabad Check Post for custody. Hence, the present writ petition. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for Transport appearing for the respondents. Several contentions are sought to be raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner. As can be seen from the check report, the driver did not stop the vehicle at the check point when signalled to do so by the checking officials and, therefore, it was intercepted by the officials and on verification, it was found that there was no proof of payment of tax for plying in Andhra Pradesh nor there was permit. Above all, the driving licence had expired as long back as on 21.1.2007. Therefore, having regard to these facts and circumstances, we are of the considered view that it is not a fit case to release the vehicle pending enquiry. However, the petitioner is at liberty to avail the remedies that are available to him under law. With this direction, the writ petition is dismissed. No order as to costs. ____________________ T.MEENA KUMARI, J. ____________ G.ROHINI, J. February 4, 2008 MAS.