Vidhu v. The Registering Authority (Regional Transport Officer), Kozhikode and The Additional Registering Authority (Sub Regional Transport Officer), Koduvally, Kozhikode District

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K.NARENDRAN** **MONDAY ,THE 08TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2018 / 16TH ASWINA, 1940** ## **WP(C).No. 29194 of 2018** ## **PETITIONER/S:** **VIDHU AGED 43 YEARS S/O SATHEESH,VALATHIL,VELLANOOR,CHOOLUR,NIT CAMPUS.P.O,KOZHIKODE-673020.** **BY ADV. SAJU J.VALLYARA** ## **RESPONDENT/S:** **1 THE REGISTERING AUTHORITY (REGIONAL TRANSPOR OFFICER),KOZHIKODE,PIN-673020. 2 THE ADDITIONAL REGISTERING AUTHORITY (SUB REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICER), KODUVALLY-673572,KOZHKODE DISTRICT.** ## **SRI P.SANTHOSH KUMAR, SPECIAL GOVERNMENT PLEADER** **THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 08.10.2018,THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** ## **JUDGMENT** The petitioner, who is the registered owner of a contract carriage (Light Motor Vehicle) bearing Registration No.KL—11/AB-3009 covered by Ext.P1 **WP(C).No. 29194 of 2018** **2** certificate of registration, has filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of mandamus commanding the respondent to consider Ext.P2 request dated 29.08.2018 for alteration of the class of the said vehicle, which is a 2006 model vehicle with seating capacity of 28 in all, with date of registration 14.05.2008, as 'stage carriage' from 'contract carriage', without insisting for the compliance of Bus Body Code. 2. On 05.09.2018, when this writ petition came up for admission, the learned Special Government Pleader submitted that the judgment of this Court in W.P.(C).No.1015 of 2018 and connected cases, wherein this Court held that the Bus Body Code is not at all applicable to the vehicles registered prior to 01.10.2014, is pending in appeal. 3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and also the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents. **WP(C).No. 29194 of 2018** **3** 4. The issue raised in this writ petition is as to the applicability of Bus Body Code prescribed under Rule 125C of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 (for brevity 'CMV Rules'), while seeking alteration of class of vehicle. The fact that the vehicle in question was originally registered as 'contract carriage' prior to the introduction of Rule 125C of the CMV Rules is not in dispute. 5. During the course of arguments, it is submitted by the learned counsel on both sides that W.A.No.1678 of 2018 and connected cases, filed by the State challenging the judgment of this Court dated 24.05.2018 in W.P.(C).No.1015 of 2018 and connected cases, ended in dismissal by the judgment of the Division Bench of this Court dated 27.09.2018. Paragraphs 4 to 6 of the said judgment read thus: _"4. It is the case of the appellants that, in as much as the writ petitioners had presented transport vehicles, that were earlier registered as educational institution buses/private service vehicles, for alteration of the class of vehicles_ **WP(C).No. 29194 of 2018** **4** _to stage carriage/contract carriage, the writ petitioners were obliged to ensure that the vehicles presented for alteration of class of vehicles also complied with the new specifications for the bus body in terms of Rule 125C of the Central Rules._ _5. We have considered the submissions of the learned Government Pleader for the appellants but, we are afraid, we cannot read Rule 125C in the manner suggested by the appellants. A mere perusal of the Rules would indicate that while Rule 125C (1) mandated that only new models of buses with seating capacity of 13 or more passengers excluding driver had to have the body built in accordance with new specifications (AIS:052 (Rev-1) 2008) at the time of presentation for testing and approval for body building, the proviso to the said Rule made the requirement applicable to existing models of such buses as well, on and after 1.4.2015. In either event, the rule applied only when a new model of vehicle was presented with the chasis and a body fitted thereon or when an existing model vehicle chassis was presented with a new body fitted thereon. In the instant Appeals, it is the admitted case that the vehicles, in respect of which the applications for alteration of class were preferred, were all vehicles with unaltered chassis and body. In other words, it was not a case where any of the vehicles had been presented with a request for approval for a new body that_ **WP(C).No. 29194 of 2018** **5** |_was built on a chassis of an existing model of_| |---| |_the vehicle. In our view, in such cases, where_| |_there is no replacement of the body of the_| |_vehicle with a new body, the provisions of Rule_| |_125C (1), together with the proviso thereof would_| |_have no application._<br> _It needs to be noted_| |_further, for the sake of completion, that the_| |_amendment that was brought about through the_| |_notification dated 20.9.2016 only had the effect_| |_of removing the erstwhile proviso and_| |_substituting it with a new proviso. The new_| |_proviso only clarifies that the implementation of_| |_the revised standards, in cases of new models of_| |_bus with seating capacity of 13 or more_| |_passengers excluding driver, will be done in two_| |_phases. In other words, the amendment has the_| |_effect of doing away with the necessity of_| |_compliance with the revised standards, so far as_| |_existing models of buses with seating capacity of_| |_13 or more passengers excluding driver are_| |_concerned. As already noted above, we are of the_| |_view that, in the case of the writ petitioners,_| |_the proviso to the unamended Rule had no_| |_application. The amendment to the Rule,_| |_therefore, did not impact them in any way._| |_6. We are therefore in complete agreement with_| |_the findings of the learned single Judge on the_| |_issue of necessity for the vehicles in question,_| |_to comply with the requirement of the revised_| |_standards under Rule 125C of the Central Rules as_| |_a pre-condition for the consideration of the_| **WP(C).No. 29194 of 2018** **6** _applications for alteration of class of vehicle. The Writ Appeals consequently fail and are accordingly dismissed.” (underline supplied)_ 6. A reading of the judgment in W.A.No.1678 of 2018 and connected cases would make it clear that the provisions under Rule 125C of the CMV Rules have application only to new models of buses with seating capacity of 13 or more passengers excluding driver. In respect of those vehicles, the body has to be built in accordance with new specifications (AIS:052 (Rev-1) 2008) at the time of presentation for testing and approval for body building. The proviso to the said Rule, made the requirement applicable to existing models of such buses as well, on and after 01.04.2015. In either event, the rule applies only when a new model of vehicle was presented with the chassis and a body fitted thereon or when an existing model vehicle chassis was presented with a new body fitted thereon. 7. In the judgment in W.A.No.1678 of 2018 and connected cases, the Division Bench noticed that in **WP(C).No. 29194 of 2018** **7** the appeals it is the admitted case that the vehicles, in respect of which the applications for alteration of class were preferred, were all vehicles with unaltered chassis and body. In other words, it was not a case where any of the vehicles had been presented with a request for approval for a new body that was built on a chassis of an existing model of the vehicle. Therefore, the Division Bench held that in such cases, where there is no replacement of the body of the vehicle with a new body, the provisions of sub-rule (1) of Rule 125C of CMV Rules, together with the proviso thereof would have no application. 8. Having considered the submissions made by the learned counsel on both sides and the judgment of the Division Bench in W.A.No.1678 of 2018 and connected cases, this Court finds that the application made by the petitioner for alteration of the class of vehicle has to be considered by the respondent Registering Authority, taking note of **WP(C).No. 29194 of 2018** ## **8** the law laid down by this Court in the decision referred to supra. 9. In **M.C. Metha v. Union of India [(1997) 8 SCC 770]** , a Three-Judge Bench of the Apex Court held that the existing provisions in the Motor Vehicles Act alone are sufficient to clothe the members of the police force and the transport authorities with ample powers to control and regulate the traffic in an appropriate manner so that no vehicle being used in a public place poses any danger to the public in any form. The requirement of maintaining the motor vehicles in the manner prescribed and its use if roadworthy in a manner which does not endanger public, has to be ensured by the authorities and this is the aim of the provisions enacted in the Motor Vehicles Act. 10. In **Usha Nanthini v. Secretary, Regional** ## **Transport Authority, Palakkad and another [2018 (2)** **KHC 89]** , in the context of Section 83 of the Motor Vehicles Act, this Court held that use of a **WP(C).No. 29194 of 2018** **9** transport vehicle which is not roadworthy in the manner prescribed under the Motor Vehicles Act and the rules made thereunder would endanger the life of the travelling public and also the public on the road, as there is every possibility that driving of such vehicles may lead to major road accidents. Therefore, strict compliance with the provisions of Rule 62 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, read with the relevant provisions under Chapter V of the said Rules, in so far as the same are applicable to transport vehicles, is highly essential for permitting the use of a transport vehicle on the road. A vehicle which no longer complies with all the requirements of the Motor Vehicles Act and the rules made thereunder cannot be permitted to be driven or plied on the road. Therefore, roadworthiness and viability of the incoming vehicle shall be the consideration in an application for replacement, rather than the model of the incoming vehicle. **WP(C).No. 29194 of 2018** **10** 11. Therefore, roadworthiness and viability of the vehicle shall be the consideration in an application for alteration of the class of a transport vehicle. In that view of the matter, a decision on the request made for alteration of the class of a transport vehicle has to be taken, taking into consideration the nature of the alteration required, the road worthiness and also the viability of the vehicle. In such circumstances, this writ petition is disposed of by directing the respondent Registering Authority to consider Ext.P2 application made by the petitioner for alteration of the class of his vehicle, taking note of the law laid down by the Division Bench of this Court in W.A.No.1678 of 2018 and connected cases and also the decisions referred to supra, and after conducting an inspection of the vehicle with reference to the provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act and Rules made thereunder, as it stood prior to the introduction to Rule 125C of the **WP(C).No. 29194 of 2018** **11** Central Motor Vehicle Rules. A decision in this regard shall be taken, as expeditiously as possible and at any rate, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment. ## **Sd/-** ## **ANIL K.NARENDRAN** ## **JUDGE** ## **APPENDIX** **PETITIONER'S/S EXHIBITS:** **EXHIBIT P1 PHOTOCOPY OF THE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE OF CONTRACT CARRIAGE VEHICLE BAERING REGN.NO.KL-11-AB-3009. EXHIBIT P2 PHOTOCOPY OF THE REQUEST DATED 29.08.2018 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE RESPONDENT IN RESPECT OF VEHICLE KL-11-AB-3009.** AV/24/10