SURYA SANKARANARAYANAN Vs. GOVERNMENT OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, who is the holder of a regular permit operating his stage carriage bearing registration No. KL-08/AF-606 on the route Chemmanampathy-Ayyanthole as Limited Stop Ordinary Service, has filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of certiorari to quash Ext.P4 order dated 14.6.2017 of the 2nd respondent State Transport Authority, insofar as it fixes the life span of Limited Stop Ordinary Service as 10 years. The petitioner has also sought for a writ of mandamus commanding the 5th respondent Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, to issue renewed permit to the petitioner granted as per Ext.P3 proceedings dated 28.12.2017 of the 4th respondent Regional Transport Authority, untrammelled by Ext.P4, within a time limit to be fixed by this Court.

(2.) On 12.4.2018 when this writ petition came up for admission, the learned Government Pleader took notice for the respondents and sought time to file counter affidavit. This Court has granted an interim direction to the respondents to permit the petitioner to operate on the route in question, untrammelled by Ext.P4, for a period of two months. The said interim order which was extended from time to time was extended for a period of two months on 14.11.2018.

(3.) Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and also the learned Government Pleader appearing for the respondents.