THE HON’BLE MR JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition No.25811 of 2007 ORDER: The petitioners are traders, or residents of RR Road, Chirala. Their grievance is that the Commissioner, Chirala Municipality, the respondent, is shifting the taxi stand to RR Road opposite to Kamadenu Complex, Shanker Nursing Home. According to the petitioners, the Municipality has established a taxi stand near Gopala Krishnaiah Park and though no resolution was passed by it for shifting thereof to RR Road, hectic efforts are being made to shift it. It is also stated that the Taxi Drivers’ Association opposed the move to shift the taxi stand from Gopala Krishnaiah Park to Rail Over Bridge, by filing a suit and that an order of injunction was also obtained. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Standing Counsel for the respondent. One of the functions of the Municipality is to identify the places for parking. It is obviously in exercise of that power that a taxi stand was provided at Gopala Krishnaiah Park in Chirala Town. It appears that necessity has arisen for shifting of the stand to another place. Municipal Council passed a resolution for shifting it near to the Rail Over Bridge. That effort was, however, resisted by the Taxi Drivers’ Association, by filing a suit. The respondent ought to have defended itself in the suit and resolved the controversy. While learned counsel for the petitioners states that the Municipality has taken a decision to shift the taxi stand to RR Road, learned Standing Counsel submits that it is only an apprehension of the petitioners. As of now, there is no resolution by the Municipality to shift the taxi stand to RR Road. Hence, the writ petition is disposed of, directing that the Municipality shall not establish any taxi stand at RR Road, except through a resolution passed by the Municipal Council, and on a consideration of the objections, if any, from the residents of the locality. There shall be no order as costs. _____________________ L. NARASIMHA REDDY, J. Dt.24.02.2011. GJ