IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN FRIDAY, THE 4TH FEBRUARY 2011 / 15TH MAGHA 1932 WP(C).No. 2221 of 2011(C) ------------------------------------ PETITIONER(S): ----------------------- 1. MOHAMMED ASLAM, S/O.ABDULLA MUSALYAR MADATHODIKAPPAD HOUSE, PADINJATTUMURI P.O., KOOTTILANGADI,MALAPPURAM DISTRICT 2. MOIDEENKUTTY, S/O.MOYINKUTTY BABU NIVAS, KODAKKADAN HOUSE, NEDIYIRUPPU, P.O.KONDOTTY, MALAPPURAM BY ADV. SRI.SAJU J.VALLYARA RESPONDENT(S): ------------------------- THE SECRETARY, REGIONAL TRANSPORT AUTHORITY MALAPPURAM DISTRICT-676505 GOVERNMENT PLEADER MR. BASANT BALAJI THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 04/02/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. --------------------------- W.P.(C) No. 2221 OF 2011 -------------------------- Dated this the 4th day of February, 2011 J U D G M E N T The petitioners are stage carriage operators operating stage carriages on the route Kozhikode-Palakkad and Palakkad- Kozhikode on the strength of permits issued in the year 2000. The time schedules in respect of their respective stage carriages were fixed by Ext.P1 order dated 7.9.2000. The petitioners have submitted Exts.P2 and P3 petitions before the respondent seeking revision of timings by reducing the running time. They contend 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, their running time is 4 hours and 05 minutes as a result of which there is heavy competition resulting in loss to the petitioners. 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 petitioners 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 WPC No.2221/2011 2 appearing for the respondent submitted on instructions that the originals of Exts.P2 and P3 have been received and have been forwarded to the Motor Vehicles Inspector for enquiry and report. He also submitted that as soon as the report is received, the respondent will consider Exts.P2 and P3 petitions 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 Exts.P2 and P3 applications expeditiously and in any event within two months from the date on which the report of the Motor Vehicles Inspector is received. The respondent shall before taking a final decision in the matter, afford the petitioners, the other stage carriage operators including the KSRTC who are operating on the same route/sectors an opportunity of being heard. P.N.RAVINDRAN, (JUDGE) vps WPC No.2221/2011 3 WPC No.2221/2011 4