P N UNNIKRISHNAN Vs. SECRETARY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner is the owner of a stage carriage bearing registration No.KL 5 M 6296. He had applied for the grant of a fresh regular permit to operate that stage carriage on the route Chelakkara - Mayannur - Ottappalam - Pazhayannur, Potta as an ordinary service. THE said application was considered by the Regional Transport Authority, Thrissur at its meeting held on 10.1.2011. On that day, the Regional Transport Authority decided as per Ext.P3 proceedings to grant the permit subject to settlement of timings. THE Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Thrissur thereafter directed the petitioner to produce the current records of the vehicle offered by him. THE petitioner states that though nearly a month has passed after the Regional Transport Authority decided to grant the permit and the Mayannur bridge has been inaugurated and opened, the Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Thrissur, has not yet issued the permit. It is stated that if a permit is issued he can cater to the needs of the public. In this writ petition the petitioner seeks a direction to the respondent to settle the timings and to issue the permit within a time limit to be fixed by this Court.

(2.) THE learned Government Pleader appearing for the respondent submitted that besides the current records of the vehicle offered by him the petitioner was also directed to produce a certificate of fitness for the virgin portion of the route, namely from Mayannur to Potta having a length of 2 Kms. from the Assistant Executive Engineer, PWD Roads and Bridges. He also submitted that the petitioner produced the said certificate only recently and that the respondent will take steps to settle the timings and issue the permit expeditiously.