ARCHANA GARG Vs. RAJPUR ROAD TRANSPORT AUTHORITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) On 12th November, 1996 the petitioner purchased Premier Padmini Car bearing registration No.DL-IC-B-0902 from Smt.Vinita Kumar. On 27th November, 1996 the petitioner submitted to the respondents an application in forms 29 and 30 for transfer of ownership of vehicle in her name. The registration certificate after requisite changes was not handed over to the petitioner even after removal of the deficiency in the application pointed orally by the respon]dents.

(2.) The petitioner who is residing at Sidharth Exten- sion, had to visit the office of respondents No.2 to 4 located at Rajpur Road several times. She was subjected to mental tension, agony and physical inconvenience. The registration certificate which was applied in the year 1996 was handed over only in February 1998 after a period of more than one and a half years that too after the petitioner approached this Court. Since there was nothing to deny, the respondents did not even file a counter affidavit. There is no explanation as to why this delay took place. The authorities whose duty was to deliver the registration certificate to the petitioner after making the necessary changes, sat over the registration certificate for about 18 months. Such a tendency must be curbed. The authorities are required to do their duty expediriously without causing any undue delay & inconvenience to the person concerned. The public servants by discharging their duties are not doing any charity to the citizens. They are paid for their job and it is expected that they will discharge their duties efficiently, diligently and honestly. In the circumstances, the respondents must pay compensation to the petitioner for causing menial tension, physical inconvenience and harassment by not delivering the registration certificate after the requisite changes to the petitioner within reasonable time.

(3.) Accordingly, the second, third and fourth respondents shall pay damages to the petitioner to the tune of Rs.l0,000.00 . The fourth respondent (Motor Licensing Officer) will contribute a sum of Rs.4000.00 , while the second & third respondents shall contribute the balance amount in equal proportion. The compensation shall be paid in the first instance by the first respondent, Transport Authority, to the petitioner within four weeks. However, the first respondent will he entitled to deduct the said amount from the salaries of second, third & fourth respondents in the manner indicated above.