A.Murugesan, v. The District Collector,
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 28.02.2024 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR.SANJAY V.GANGAPURWALA, CHIEF JUSTICE and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.DHANABAL A.Murugesan ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The District Collector, O/o.The District Collector Office, Sivagangai District.
2.The District Collector, O/o. the District Collector Office, Pudukkottai District.
3.The Tahsildar, O/o.The Tahsildar, Thirupathur, Sivagangai District.
4.The Chief Manager, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Kumbakonam Ltd), Kumbakonam.
5.The Divisional Manager, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Karaikudi, Sivagangai District 6.The Regional Transport Officer, O/o.Sivagangai Collectorate, Sivagangai.
7.The Regional Transport Officer, O/o.Subramaniyapuram, Karaikudi, Sivagangai.
... Respondents PRAYER : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the Respondents 1 to 3 to ply the 23 Madurai to Thanjavur TNSTC daily bus services through Keelasevalpatti and Malaikudipatti Villages by considering the Petitioner's representations dated 28.11.2015, 09.02.2016, 14.06.2017 and 03.08.2018.
For Petitioner : Mr.S.Vanchinathan For Respondents : Mr.P.Thilak Kumar - for R1 to R3 Government Pleader Mr.S.C.Herold Singh - for R6 & R7 Mr.K.Jagadees Balan - for R4 & R5
O R D E R
[Order of the Court was made by The Hon'ble CHIEF JUSTICE] We have heard Mr.S.Vanchinathan, learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr.P.Thilak Kumar, learned Government Pleader appearing for the respondents 1 to 3, Mr.K.Jagadees Balan, learned counsel appearing for the respondents 4 and 5 and Mr.S.C.Herold Singh, learned counsel appearing for the respondents 6 and 7.
2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the respondent Nos.1 to 3 ply 23 Madurai to Thanjavur Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus services daily through Keelasevalpatti and Malaikudipatti Villages. Though these villages are shown as stages, none of the buses of TNSTC stops at these villages, thereby, causing inconvenience to the villagers. Almost, 20,000 persons are affected. In the information provided under Right to Information Act, the respondents also admitted that these 23 Madurai to Thanjavur buses are required to stop at these Keelasevalpatti and Malaikudipatti Villages, but they do not stop.
3. The learned counsel for the respondents submits that because of the bye-pass created, the said buses may not stop at the villages. The buses are stopped at the junction of the said villages.
4. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner, the said junction is 2 kms. away from the villages.
5. The learned counsel for the respondents further submits that 27 mofussil buses are plying from Thiruppathur to Trichy and all these buses are stopped at Keelasevalpatti and Malaikudipatti Villages. So also there are 10 town buses plying to the said villages. Totally, 51 trips are operated from the said villages.
6. The routes on which the buses are to be operated has to be determined by the respondents. The feasibility and availability of the stages has to be considered by the TNSTC. No doubt, if the stages are shown of a bus from start point to end point, then it has to stop at those stages. The respondents may at least take care to provide bus service to these two villages plying from Madurai to Thanjavur of some of the buses, so that, the hardship caused to the villagers would be avoided.
7. The representation is already given by the petitioner. The respondents shall consider the said representation and take decision expeditiously on its own merits, preferably, within a period of four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
8. Accordingly, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs.
[S.V.G., C.J.] [P.D.B., J.] 28.02.2024 Index : Yes / No RM
To 1.The District Collector, O/o.The District Collector Office, Sivagangai District.
2.The District Collector, O/o. the District Collector Office, Pudukkottai District.
3.The Tahsildar, O/o.The Tahsildar, Thirupathur, Sivagangai District.
4.The Chief Manager, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Kumbakonam Ltd), Kumbakonam.
5.The Divisional Manager, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Karaikudi, Sivagangai District 6.The Regional Transport Officer, O/o.Sivagangai Collectorate, Sivagangai.
7.The Regional Transport Officer, O/o.Subramaniyapuram, Karaikudi, Sivagangai.
THE HONOURABLE CHIEF JUSTICE and P.DHANABAL, J .
RM 28.02.2024