C RAVINDRAN Vs. STATE TRANSPORT AUTHORITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The writ petition is filed for the relief of issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents herein to release the petitioner' s vehicle bearing Registration No.PY-02/B 6525 seized on 9.3.2004 by the Motor Vehicles Inspector, Mettupalayam, who is the subordinate of the second respondent and stationed at Annur Police Station.

(2.) The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner is a contract carriage operator in Union Territory of Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu. The vehicle bearing Registration No.PY-02/B-6525 is covered by a contract carriage permit and the petitioner has also obtained a special permit in respect of his contract carriage from the State Transport Authority, Pondicherry for a period of seven days from 5.3.2004 to 11.3.2004 to ply in between Karaikal and Ooty. When the vehicle was coming to Mettupalayam from Ooty on 9.3.2004, the Regional Transport Officer seized the vehicle for the reason best known to him. Inspite of several representations sent to the respondents, the respondents have not considered the same and the vehicle has been detained without reason whatsoever. Hence, the present writ petition with the prayer as stated above.

(3.) As the request is only for disposal of the petitioner's representations dated 15.3.2004 and 22.3.2004 putting the Special Government Pleader on notice, the second respondent is hereby directed to dispose of the representations of the petitioner dated 15.3.2004 and 22.3 .2004 in accordance with law on or before 5th April, 2004.