IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.SURENDRA MOHAN FRIDAY, THE 23RD JULY 2010 / 1ST SRAVANA 1932 WP(C).No. 23099 of 2010(J) ---------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S): ----------------------- P.S.PRAMOD, PARAMMEL HOUSE, P.O.KOONAMOOCHI, THRISSUR. BY ADVS. SRI.P.DEEPAK SMT.APARNA RAJAN RESPONDENT(S): ------------------------ THE REGIONAL TRANSPORT AUTHORITY, MALAPPURAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, MALAPPURAM. BY SR. GOVT. PLEADER SRI.K.C.SANTHOSHKUMAR THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 23/07/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: tss K.SURENDRA MOHAN, J. ------------------------------------------- W.P.(C) No.23099 of 2010 ------------------------------------------- Dated this the 23rd July, 2010 JUDGMENT The petitioner is a stage carriage operator conducting services on a long distance inter district route. The service is operated as a Limited Stop Ordinary Service (LSOS). The petitioner has submitted an application for the conversion of his service to a 'Fast Passenger' for the reason that it is not possible for him to operate his service as an LSOS since the route length exceeds 140 kms. However, Ext.P1 application submitted for this purpose has been adjourned by the respondent on the ground that the Government has not re-defined the expression “Fleet Owner”, in compliance with the directions of this Court. 2. It is pointed out by the counsel for the petitioner that Exts.P2 and P3 judgments do not justify postponement of the applications for conversion, awaiting notification from the Government re-defining the expression Fleet Owner. Therefore, he prays for the issue of appropriate directions for the consideration of his application, without further delay. 3. I have heard the learned Senior Government wpc No.23099/2010 2 Pleader Mr.K.C.Santhosh Kumar also. 4. In view of the fact that the requirement of being a ' Fleet Owner is not necessary to be satisfied for seeking conversion as a Fast Passenger, the impugned action of the respondent cannot be sustained. Paragraph-15 of Ext.P3 judgment makes it abundantly clear that the petitioner is not only entitled but is also liable to seek conversion as a Fast Passenger service since his route length exceeds 140 kms. In view of the above, the respondent is directed to consider the application of the petitioner without further delay. 5. In the above circumstances, this writ petition is disposed of directing the respondent to consider the application for conversion as a Fast Passenger service submitted by the petitioner, in accordance with law and to pass appropriate orders thereon as expeditiously as possible and at any rate within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. K.SURENDRA MOHAN, JUDGE css/