T.Vijayanath, v. Inspector Of Police,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 04.01.2019
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.BHARATHIDASAN W.P.No.33964 of 2018 T.Vijayanath
...Petitioner
Vs
1. Inspector of Police, Ammapet Police Station, Coimbatore District.
2. The Licensing Authority-cum- Regional Transport Officer, Gobichettipalayam, Erode District.
...Respondents
Prayer:- Writ Petition has been filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, prayed to issue Writ of Mandamus to direct the second respondent herein to return the original driving license (DL. No.TN42 Y 2014 0001899) to the petitioner forthwith.
For Petitioners : Mr.K.Hariharan For Respondents : Mr.R.Govindasamy Special Government Pleader
ORDER
This writ petition has been filed seeking direction to the second respondent to return the original Driving Licence to the petitioner.
2. According to the petitioner, he is a driver in a private company and the bus driven by him was met with an accident on 24.10.2018. Based on that, a criminal case was registered against him by the first respondent police in Cr.No.283/2018 under Section 279 & 304-A of IPC. Thereafter, the first respondent/Inspector of Police seized his licence and produced the same for taking action before the second respondent/Regional Transport Office under section 19 of the Motor Vehicle Act. But, so far no action has been taken by the
second respondent and the second respondent/Regional Transport Office is holding the licence with them. Hence, the present writ petition is filed.
3. Today, when the matter is taken up for the hearing, the learned Special Government Pleader, appearing for the second respondent submitted that already an enquiry has been initiated under section 19(1) of the Act and a show cause notice was also issued to the petitioner for further action. But, so far the petitioner did not file his objection and hence, enquiry is pending.
4. I have heard the rival submissions and perused the materials available on records.
5. Considering the fact that as already enquiry has been initiated under section 19(1) of the Act and show cause notice was also issued to the petitioner, the petitioner is directed to submit his objection, before the second respondent, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. On receipt of the same, the second respondent is directed to conduct enquiry and pass a final reasoned order on merits and in accordance with law within a period of four weeks thereafter. Until the final order is passed in the proceedings, the second respondent has no power to withhold the licence. In the said circumstances, the second respondent is directed to return the Licence to the petitioner subject to the result of the enquiry proceedings.
6. With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs.
dh/kal Sd/- Assistant Registrar //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar To
1. Inspector of Police, Ammapet Police Station, Coimbatore District.
2. The Licensing Authority-cum- Regional Transport Officer, Gobichettipalayam, Erode District.
+1cc to Mr.K.Hariharan, Advocate, S.R.No.1108/19 +1cc to the Government Pleader, S.R.No.1492/19. W.P.No.33694 of 2018 nmi(co) kak(07/01/2019)