P TAMILGNANAM Vs. REGIONAL TRANSPORT AUTHORITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS writ petition has been filed to call for and quash the impugned proceedings of the second respondent, dated 8.6.2011. The petitioner has stated that a driving licence, bearing licence No.TN4919750000408, was granted by the first respondent, on 31.5.1975. The said licence was valid upto 30.5.2011, for driving light motor vehicles. Further, the petitioner had been granted a licence for driving heavy transport vehicles, on 26.7.1979. He was also authorised to drive a transport vehicle, vide badge No.9100, dated 18.4.1979.

(2.) IT has been further stated that when the petitioner was driving the vehicle bearing No.TN 01 U 0852, on 9.4.2011, an accident had taken place, due to the carelessness of a cyclist, leading to his death. A complaint had been registered against the petitioner before the second respondent. The second respondent had issued a show cause notice, dated 30.5.2011, on the ground that the accident had taken place due to the negligence of the petitioner. The petitioner had been asked to explain as to why his driving licence should not be suspended or cancelled. Seven days time had been given to the petitioner to reply to the show cause notice, dated 30.5.2011.

(3.) PER contra, the learned Government Advocate appearing on behalf of the respondent had submitted that the averments made in the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition are incorrect. The petitioner had caused a fatal accident, on 9.4.2011, due to his negligent driving of the vehicle in question, leading to the death of a cyclist. Therefore, the second respondent had issued a show cause notice to the petitioner, dated 30.5.2011, based on the complaint registered before him. Since, the explanation submitted by the petitioner was not satisfactory and as the petitioner had accepted the fact that the accident had been caused, while he was driving the vehicle, his driving licence had been suspended for a period of six months, as per Section 19(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The order passed by the second respondent, on 8.6.2011, suspending the licence of the petitioner, cannot be said to be arbitrary or illegal. The second respondent had passed the impugned order, dated 8.6.2011, following the principles of natural justice. The second respondent had issued the show cause notice, dated 30.5.2011, asking the petitioner to submit his explanation. Since, the explanation submitted by the petitioner was not satisfactory, the second respondent had passed the order, dated 8.6.2011, suspending the licence of the petitioner, for a period of six months, as per law.