Muhammed Kunhi C.K. and others v. State of Kerala and The Regional Transport Officer, Kanhangad

Case Details & Bench

Court: High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges: P.B. Suresh Kumar
Judgment Date: 2016-11-15
Court Decision / Holding: Writ petition disposed of with a directive to the second respondent to consider Exts.P51 to P75 for variation of halting places in light of Rajesh v. Secretary, R.T.A. (supra), to be completed within two weeks from the date of the judgment.
Final Disposition: Disposed of writ petition with directions to consider Exts.P51–P75 in light of Rajesh v. Secretary, R.T.A., within two weeks.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

MUHAMMED KUNHI C.K.
SHANTHAKUMARI M.
BIJU P.P.
SALIM KANAPARAVAN
PRAJITH K.
SAFIYA A.H.
DEVENDRA H.V.
CHANDRAN V.
RAJEEVAN
NANDA KISHORE
ABDUL NASAR P.K.
SAKKARIYA K.
VALSALAN V.K.
SULAIMAN
ABDUL AZEEZ C.H.
RAHMATH A.
MUHAMMED KUNHI E.
RAJESH A.V.
KUMARAN
SALAM
IBRAHIM K.
RAJAN K.
SHOUKATHALI
SUHAIL A.
MANZOOR C.

Respondents

STATE OF KERALA, represented by Secretary to Government, Motor Vehicles Department, Government Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram
THE REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICER, KANHANGAD, KASARAGOD DISTRICT

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

• SRI.V.VENUGOPAL

Counsels for Respondents

• SMT.C.S.SHEEJA

Case Synopsis & Summary

The petition is a Writ Petition (C) filed by 25 autorickshaw operators in Kasaragod district seeking variation of the halting place mentioned in their permit conditions. The petitioners filed Exts.P51 to P75 applications with the second respondent (Regional Transport Officer) for changing halting points to suit their operations. They rely on the court’s earlier decision in Rajesh v. Secretary, R.T.A., 2014 (3) KLT 341, which addressed a similar grievance and directed authorities to consider comparable pleas. The matter was heard with the petitioners’ counsel and the Government Pleader present. The Court notes Rajesh as a precedent addressing the same grievance and ultimately disposes of the petition by directing the second respondent to dispose of Exts.P51–P75 in light of Rajesh. The court emphasizes timely action by the authority, directing completion within two weeks from the date of the judgment. The decision reflects the court’s approach of applying existing precedents to ensure administrative relief in permit-related disputes and reinforces supervisory oversight to secure prompt consideration of applications affecting livelihood. The outcome provides interim relief by mandating proactive review rather than ad hoc denial of the applications.

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioners contend that their Exts.P51–P75 applications seek a variation of the halting places prescribed in their autorickshaw permits. They rely on the decision in Rajesh v. Secretary, R.T.A. (2014 (3) KLT 341) as a precedent, arguing for expeditious and uniform consideration of such pleas by the Regional Transport Officer, with directions to dispose of the applications in light of the Rajesh ruling.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents’ contentions are presented by the Government Pleader; however, the order record does not elaborate on specific counter-arguments in detail. The court’s decision primarily rests on applying Rajesh to the present facts rather than setting out a separate respondents’ position in the order.

Cited Precedents (1)

Case Name	Citation	Treatment	Explanation
Rajesh v. Secretary, R.T.A.	2014 (3) KLT 341	Positive	Used as controlling precedent for addressing the same grievance and directing expeditious disposal of similar applications.

Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT:** ## **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR** **TUESDAY, THE 15TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2016/24TH KARTHIKA, 1938** **WP(C).No. 36514 of 2016 (L)** **----------------------------** ## **PETITIONERS:-:** ## **-------------** **1. MUHAMMED KUNHI C.K., AGED 48 YEARS, S/O.JAMEELA K., ASHIK MANZIL, KULIYANGAL, P.O.KANHANGAD, HOSDURG TALUK.** **2. SHANTHAKUMARI M., AGED 45 YEARS, W/O.BHAVANISHANKER, SREE VINAYAKA NIVAS, KUSHAL NAGAR, KANHANGAD P.O., HOSDURG TALUK.** **3. BIJU P.P., AGED 32 YEARS, S/O.NARAYANAN P.P., PADINHARE PURAYIL, MANYOT, KANANGAD SOUTH P.O., HOSDURG TALUK.** **4. SALIM KANAPARAVAN, AGED 38 YEARS, S/O.MOOSA, C.K.QUARTERS, BALLA, THOYAMMAL, HOSDURG TALUK.** **5. PRAJITH K., AGED 30 YEARS, S/O.BALAN K., PUTHIYAVALAPPIL HOUSE, KANHANGAD P.O., HOSDURG TALUK.** **6. SAFIYA A.H., AGED 33 YEARS, D/O.HASSAINAR, A V QUARTERS, BALLA KADAPPURAM, HOSDURG TALUK.** **7. DEVENDRA H.V., AGED 44 YEARS, S/O.BABANNA HEGDE, R.B.NILAYA, KUSHAI NAGAR, KANHANGAD P.O., HOSDURG TALUK.** **8. CHANDRAN V., AGED 37 YEARS, S/O.KUNHAMBU, ATHIKKOTH, KULIYANMARAM, P.O.BALLA, HOSDURG TALUK.** **9. RAJEEVAN, AGED 34 YEARS, S/O.RAMAN, KALARIKKAL HOUSE, KUSHAL NAGAR, KANHANGAD P.O., HOSDURG TALUK.** **....2/-** **PJ** **..2..** **WP(C).No. 36514 of 2016 (L)** ## **----------------------------** ## **10. NANDA KISHORE,** **AGED 32, S/O.BHASKARA, KUSHAL NAGAR, KANHANGAD P.O., HOSDURG TALUK.** **11. ABDUL NASAR P.K., AGED 42 YEARS, S/O.USMAN, P.K.HOUSE, PAZHAYA KADAPPURAM, HOSDURG TALUK.** **12. SAKKARIYA K., AGED 37 YEARS, S/O.MUHAMMED, RASHID MANZIL, HOSDURG KADAPPURAM, HOSDURG TALUK.** ## **13. VALSALAN V.K.,** **AGED 43 YEARS, S/O.ACHU KOOTTAYIKAR, VALSALALAYAM, KANHANGAD P.O., HOSDURG TALUK.** ## **14. SULAIMAN,** **AGED 35 YEARS, S/O.AYISHABI, KALLURAVI, P.O.KANHANGAD SOUTH, HOSDURG TALUK.** ## **15. ABDUL AZEEZ C.H.,** **AGED 36 YEARS, S/O.ASSINAR E.K., ANANTHAMPALLA, P.O.OZHINHAVALAPPU, HOSDURG TALUK.** ## **16. RAHMATH A.,** **AGED 38 YEARS, S/O.SHAFI, PUNJAVI HOUSE, OZHINHAVALAPPU P.O., HOSDURG TALUK.** **17. MUHAMMED KUNHI E., AGED 29 YEARS, S/O.IBRAHIM, AVIKKARA HOUSE, AVIKKARA, P.O.KANHANGAD, HOSDURG TALUK.** ## **18. RAJESH A.V.,** **AGED 30 YEARS, S/O.RAGUNATHAN A., ATHIKOTH HOUSE, P.O.BALLA, HOSDURG TALUK.** ## **19. KUMARAN,** **AGED 50 YEARS, S/O.KANNAN, ADAMBIL, CHEMMATTAMVAYAL, P.O.BALLA, HOSDURG TALUK.** ## **20. SALAM,** **AGED 35 YEARS, S/O.ABOOBACKER HAJI, PUNJAVI, NEAR JUMA MASJID, P.O.OZHINJAVALAPPU, HOSDURG TALUK.** ## **21. IBRAHIM K.,** **AGED 33 YEARS, S/O.MOIDU, AKKARAMMAL HOUSE, KUSHAL NAGAR, KANHANGAD P.O., HOSDURG TALUK.** **....3/-** **PJ** **..3..** **WP(C).No. 36514 of 2016 (L)** **----------------------------** **22. RAJAN K., AGED 42 YEARS, S/O.AMBU, PUTHUVAL, P.O.BALLA, HOSDURG TALUK.** **23. SHOUKATHALI, AGED 37 YEARS, S/O.MOIDEENKUTTY, KANDAMKAVU HOUSE, MURIYANAVI, HOSDURG TALUK.** **24. SUHAIL A., AGED 29 YEARS, S/O.ABOOBACKER, VADAKARAMUKKU, KANHANGAD P.O., HOSDURG TALUK.** **25. MANZOOR C., AGED 30 YEARS, S/O.C.MUHAMMED, PUNJAVI KADAPPURAM, PODIKALAM ROAD, MURIYANAVI, HOSDURG TALUK.** ## **BY ADV. SRI.V.VENUGOPAL** **RESPONDENTS:-:** **-------------** **1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, MOTOR VEHICLES DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001.** **2. THE REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICER, KANHANGAD, KASARAGOD DISTRICT - 671 315.** **BY SENIOR GOVERNMENT PLEADER SMT.C.S.SHEEJA** **THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 15-11-2016, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** **PJ** ## **WP(C).No. 36514 of 2016 (L)** **----------------------------** ## **APPENDIX** ## **PETITIONER(S)' EXHIBITS** **----------------------EXHIBIT P1. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 60 L 661. EXHIBIT P2. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 60 B 8256. EXHIBIT P3. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 60 G 3937. EXHIBIT P4. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 60 A 4904. EXHIBIT P5. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 14 E 6462. EXHIBIT P6. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 60 H 8566. EXHIBIT P7. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 60 L 1184. EXHIBIT P8. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 60 E 5296. EXHIBIT P9. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 60 E 8514. EXHIBIT P10. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 60 B 3191. EXHIBIT P11. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 59 4698. EXHIBIT P12. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 60 D 6366. EXHIBIT P13. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 60 L 3732. EXHIBIT P14. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 60 B 4342. EXHIBIT P15. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 60 6177. EXHIBIT P16. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 14 P 571.** **EXHIBIT P17. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 60 L 1119.** - **EXHIBIT P18. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 60 K 6715.** - **EXHIBIT P19. A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KL 60 A 8928.** **....2/-** **PJ** **..2..** ## **WP(C).No. 36514 of 2016 (L)** **----------------------------** |**EXHIBIT P20.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF**| |---|---| ||**KL 60 B 6981.**| |**EXHIBIT P21.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF**| ||**KL 60 L 2210.**| |**EXHIBIT P22.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF**| ||**KL 60 6184.**| |**EXHIBIT P23.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF**| ||**KL 60 A 8157.**| |**EXHIBIT P24.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF**| ||**KL 60 L 573.**| |**EXHIBIT P25.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF**| ||**KL 60 1913.**| |**EXHIBIT P26.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 1ST PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P27.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 2ND PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P28.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 3RD PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P29.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 4TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P30.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 5TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P31.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 6TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P32.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 7TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P33.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 8TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P34.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 9TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P35.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 10TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P36.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 11TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P37.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 12TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P38.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 13TH PETITIONER.**| **...3/-** **PJ** **..3..** ## **WP(C).No. 36514 of 2016 (L)** **----------------------------** |**EXHIBIT P39.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| |---|---| ||**TO THE 14TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P40.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 15TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P41.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 16TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P42.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 17TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P43.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 18TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P44.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 19TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P45.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 20TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P46.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 21ST PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P47.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 22ND PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P48.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 23RD PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P49.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 24TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P50.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT ISSUED**| ||**TO THE 25TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P51.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016**| ||**SUBMITTED BY THE 1ST PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P52.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016**| ||**SUBMITTED BY THE 2ND PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P53.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016**| ||**SUBMITTED BY THE3RD PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P54.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016**| ||**SUBMITTED BY THE 4TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P55.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016**| ||**SUBMITTED BY THE 5TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P56.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016**| ||**SUBMITTED BY THE 6TH PETITIONER.**| |**EXHIBIT P57.**| **A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016**| ||**SUBMITTED BY THE 7TH PETITIONER.**| **....4/-** **PJ** **..4..** ## **WP(C).No. 36514 of 2016 (L)** **----------------------------** - **EXHIBIT P58. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 8TH PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P59. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 9TH PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P60. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 10TH PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P61. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 11TH PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P62. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 12TH PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P63. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 13TH PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P64. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 14TH PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P65. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 15TH PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P66. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 16TH PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P67. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 17TH PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P68. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 18TH PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P69. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 19TH PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P70. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 20TH PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P71. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 21ST PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P72. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 22ND PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P73. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 23RD PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P74. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 24TH PETITIONER.** - **EXHIBIT P75. A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 08.10.2016 SUBMITTED BY THE 25TH PETITIONER.** ## **RESPONDENT(S)' EXHIBITS** - **----------------------- NIL.** **/ TRUE COPY /** **P.S. TO JUDGE** **PJ** ## **P.B. SURESH KUMAR, J.** **-------------------------------------------------** ## **W.P.(C) No.36514 of 2016** **------------------------------------------------Dated this the 15[th] day of November, 2016** ## **J U D G M E N T** The petitioners are plying autorikshaws in Kasaragod district. They submitted Exts.P51 to P75 applications before the second respondent for variation of the halting place mentioned in the permit issued to them for plying the autorikshaws. They seek directions to the second respondent to dispose of Exts.P51 to P75 applications, in the light of the decision of this Court in **Rajesh** v. **Secretary, R.T.A.** (2014 (3) KLT 341). 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners as also the learned Government Pleader. 3. It is seen that **Rajesh** v. **Secretary, R.T.A.** ( _supra_ ) is a case wherein this Court had dealt with the W.P.(C) No.36514 of 2016 -2- grievance identical to the grievance of the petitioners herein. In the circumstances, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition directing the second respondent to consider Exts.P51 to P75 applications, in the light of the decision in **Rajesh** v. **Secretary, R.T.A.** ( _supra_ ). This shall be done within two weeks from today. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- **P.B. SURESH KUMAR JUDGE** rsr