ABHISHEK KUMAR SINGH Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The writ petitioner is aggrieved with regard to the decision of the Regional Transport Authority Board of Kolkata Region, in its meeting and resolution dated December 19, 2023, thereby rejecting petitioner's prayer for grant of a permit of stage carriage in route No. 215 A and 215 A/1. Hence, he has filed the present writ petition, to seek relief that the impugned decision of the RTA, Kolkata Region Board, by dint of the meeting and resolution dated December 19, 2023, be set aside.

(2.) Mr. Samanta, for the petitioner has specifically taken the following two points. Firstly, that discrimination has been meted out against his client, by not considering the 'financial stability' of him, in spite of the petitioner having submitted the bank statements before the authority, to fortify his claim of being sufficiently stable financially, to run the business in a stage carriage. He has pointed out to the fact that in the 'broadsheet' as annexed with the report submitted by the Authority in Court, the said Authority would not be found to have considered the bank statement submitted by the petitioner, while assessing his eligibility to be granted with the permit. Secondly, Mr. Samanta has argued that the private respondents have been advanced undue favour insofar as the authority as above, in the same meeting and on the basis of the same documents submitted by the private respondents, has considered their prayer for grant of permit favourably with respect to more than one route. He has sought for an appropriate order in this writ petition by allowing the same.

(3.) Pursuant to the order of this Court, a report has been filed in the Court by the Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Kolkata Region, dated April 26, 2024. In the said report, it has been stated inter alia that, with respect to the 2 vacancies as was declared for the route 215 A and 215 A/1, applications were invited. The applicants were requested to appear before the Board. They were afforded opportunity of hearing and the documents submitted by them have been duly considered by the Board. It is stated further that Board's decision is based on due consideration of the applications and relevant documents. The State respondent has maintained a stand that proper procedure in terms of the statutory mandates, has been duly followed by it in granting permit for the 2 vacancies available for the said route.