Reshma Jaya Gayathri V v. The District Collector / Monitoring Committee
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 18.12.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE G.JAYACHANDRAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN and W.M.P.(MD) No.28912 of 2025 V.Reshma Jaya Gayathri ... Petitioner -vs1.The District Collector / Monitoring Committee Tenkasi District Tenkasi-627 811 2.The Transport Commissioner Ezhilagam, Chepauk Chennai-600 005 3.The Regional Transport Officer Srivilliputtur-626 125 4.The Regional Transport Officer Sivakasi-626 124
5.The Regional Transport Officer Sankarankoil-627 756 6.The Regional Transport Officer Tenkasi-627 803 7.The Regional Transport Officer Virudhunagar-626 002 8.Kayesr Group of Companies Thoppupatti Chettikulam Rajapalayam Tamil Nadu-626 117 9.P.J.Ramkumar Rajha 10.K.M.Prasanna 11.K.S.Muthusingappa Raja 12.P.R.Jeghadeesh 13.Shree Vedika ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of mandamus:
(a) directing respondent No.1, the head of the district administration, to conduct an administrative enquiry into the systemic lapses of the Regional Transport Offices
(respondents 3 - 7) in enforcing safety norms for the Kayesr Bus Company fleet, their inspection failures, and their handling of the RTI applications, to fix accountability, (b) directing the respondent No.2 to immediately consider the suspension or cancellation of all permits of vehicles operating under the Kayesr Group of Company brand, including those registered in the names of the individual permit holders (respondent 8 onwards), if found guilty of repeated or willful safety violations, particularly those contributing to the Kadayanallur mass casualty incident, exercising powers under MVA Section 86 and to conduct a comprehensive safety audit of all vehicles associated with the Kayesr Bus Company Group immediately and to frame and implement a state-level safety enforcement policy that mandates clear, automatic, and prompt action, including suspension or cancellation of permits, against repeat and willful safety violators who operate transport vehicles under fragmented ownership or alias brand models,
(c) directing the respondent Nos.3 to 7 to produce the complete and detailed enforcement and inspection records for the past five years related to all vehicles operating under the Kayesr Bus Company brand, overcoming the unjustified exemption claimed under RTI Section 8(1)(j) in the overwhelming public interest and (d) directing the competent Police Authority to immediately lodge an FIR against the owners (respondent No.9 to 13) of the Kayesr Group Bus Company under appropriate sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, for culpable homicide not amounting to murder or gross negligence leading to death and injury, based on the preliminary investigation report citing speeding and negligent driving causing the fatalities on November 24, 2025. For Petitioner :
Mr.S.Rajasekar for M/s.KKR Law Firm For Respondents :
Mr.P.Thilakkumar Government Pleader for R1 to R7
O R D E R
[Order of the Court was made by DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN, J.] This public interest litigation is filed making allegation that the vehicles of the private respondents are operating in the particular route in a rash and negligent manner without carrying for the safety of the public and the complaints given to the authorities in this regard have not been considered. Citing certain accidents in that area, the petitioner herein seeks for interference of this Court to issue mandamus directing the official respondents to conduct an administrative enquiry into the systemic lapses in the Regional Transport Offices.
2. This Court is of the view that the prayer sought in this writ petition by way of public interest litigation is very vague and it is not a cure for the alleged grievance. There are enough statutes to take action against the vehicles plying in violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and if any such incident occurs, it is for the police authorities to take necessary action on complaint. Passing a vague umbrella order directing the authorities concerned to conduct administrative enquiry is not within the purview of the writ jurisdiction. Hence, this writ petition is liable to be dismissed.
3. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. [G.J., J.] [K.K.R.K., J.] 18.12.2025 NCC :
Yes / No Index :
Yes / No Internet :
Yes / No krk To:
1.The District Collector / Monitoring Committee, Tenkasi District, Tenkasi-627 811.
2.The Transport Commissioner, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai-600 005.
3.The Regional Transport Officer, Srivilliputtur-626 125.
4.The Regional Transport Officer, Sivakasi-626 124.
5.The Regional Transport Officer, Sankarankoil-627 756.
6.The Regional Transport Officer, Tenkasi-627 803.
7.The Regional Transport Officer, Virudhunagar-626 002.
DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN, J.
AND K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN, J.
krk and W.M.P.(MD) No.28912 of 2025 18.12.2025