RAJA KHANGARJEE Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) For three routes, namely, (1) Barama-sia Chandankiary Chas-Dhanbad via Mahuda (2) Dhanbad Sindri via Jharia, and (3) Katras Sindri via Jharia applications were received from various operators, and the Rajya Transport undertaking, Bihar, was also an applicant along with the other operators. At a meeting held on the 19th of October, 1957, the Chotanagpure Regional Transport Authority, after giving a hearing to the applicants, granted permit for the routes mentioned above to the Rajya. Transport. The operators whose applications were rejected went up in appeal to the Appeal Board of the State Transport Authority against the order of the Chotanagpure Regional Transport Authority. The Appeal Board held that the Rajya Transport being a State Transport undertaking was not competent to make an application under Section 57(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act in competition with other operators on the routes advertised by the Chotanagpure Regional Transport Authority. Against this order of the Appeal Board the Rajya Transport went up in revision before the State Government under the provisions of Section 64A of the Motor Vehicles Act. The revision application was allowed by the Minister of Transport, who set aside the order of the Appeal Board and held that the Rajya Transport was competent to apply for permit in respect of routes which are not notified within the meaning of Section 68C of the Motor Vehicles Act.

(2.) In support of these applications it was submitted by learned counsel that the view of law taken by the Minister of Transport in his order dated the 21st of August, 1958, is erroneous. We do not accept the argument of learned counsel as right. In our opinion the Minister of Transport has taken the correct view of law as to the interpretation of Section 68C of the Motor Vehicles Act. Section 68B of the Motor Vehicles Act states that the provisions of Chapter IVA and the rules and orders made thereunder shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in Chapter IV of the Act or in any other law. But the provisions of Chapter IVA apply only to a case where there is a scheme prepared and published in accordance with Section 68C which reads as follows:--

(3.) It is admitted position that before the insertion of Chapter IVA by Section 62 of Act 100 of 1956 the Rajya Transport undertaking used to make application for stage carriage permit under Section 57(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act along with other operators.