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Madras High CourtWP(MD)/36454/2025disposed of

Sri Lakshmanan Bus Service Firm, v. The District Collector Cum Regional Transport Authority,

2026-01-02Honourable Mr Justice Krishnan Ramasamy6 pages

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENGH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 02.01.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY W.P.(MD)No.36454 of 2025 and W.M.P.(MD)No.29023 of 2025 Sri Lakshmanan Bus Service Firm, Rep. by L.Saravanakumar, No.6B, Park Road, Aarappalayam, Madurai - 625 016.

... Petitioner Vs

1. The District Collector Cum Regional Transport Authority, Madurai District, Madurai - 625 020.

2. The Regional Transport Officer, Madurai North, Madurai District.

... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the 1st respondent to Permit the petitioner's Mini Bus bearing Registration No. TN 58 S 7782 to enter into Periyar Bus Stand from Railway Gate Western Entry a distance of 0.9 Kms as per Class VII of the new Mini Bus scheme in G.O.Ms.No.198 Home (Transport - I) Department dated 28.04.2025. For Petitioner : Mr.A.C.Asaithambi For Respondents : Mrs.S.Jeyapriya, Govt. Advocate.

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O R D E R

This Writ Petition is filed seeking a Mandamus as against the 1st respondent to Permit the petitioner's Mini Bus bearing Registration No. TN 58 S 7782 to enter into Periyar Bus Stand from Railway Gate Western Entry a distance of 0.9 Kms as per Class VII of the new Mini Bus scheme in G.O.Ms.No.198 Home (Transport - I) Department dated 28.04.2025.

2. By consent, this Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.

3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the respondents issued permit to the petitioner to operate a Mini bus bearing Registration No.TN 58 S 7782 plying on the route Paravai Fathima College to Railway Gate Western Entry. The Railway Gate Western Entry is the petitioner terminus, which is 0.9 km away from the Periyar Bus stand. He further submits that the passengers, who are boarding in the petitioner's bus, have to go to Periyar bus stand by way of walk or getting other transport. It is very difficult to the travelling public 2/6

those who are coming from the rural areas are dropped at Railway Gate Western Entry. He further submitted that other mini buses are granted permission to operate their buses upto Periyar Bus stand. Therefore, the petitioner made a representation on 25.11.2025 to the first respondent, seeking permission to enter into Periyar Bus stand from Railway Gate Western Entry, in terms of G.O.Ms.No.198, Home (Transport - I) Department, dated 28.04.2025. Since no orders have been passed on the said representation, the petitioner has filed this Writ Petition.

4. The learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents, after taking instructions, would submit that they would consider the representation of the petitioner dated 25.11.2025, by taking into consideration of G.O.Ms.No.198, Home (Transport - I) Department, dated 28.04.2025.

5. I have given careful consideration for the submissions made by both sides and perused the materials available on record.

6. On a perusal of the G.O.Ms.No.198, Home (Transport - I) Department, dated 28.04.2025, it is crystal clear that in the event if the 3/6

bus stop falls within 1 km from the terminal points such as Government Hospital, School, College, Railway Station, etc., the respondents shall consider the request of the permit holders to extend the additional distance of upto 1 km in the served area. The said Clause VII of the said G.O.Ms.No.198, Home (Transport - I) Department, dated 28.04.2025 reads as follows:

"(VII) Extension to cater to institutions:

Notwithstanding points (i) to (vi) above, if any adjoining area within the next 1 km from the terminal point happens to be a Government Hospital Higher Secondary School, College, Railway station, Uzhavarsandhai, Agricultural regulatory market, Collectorate and Taluk Office, places of famous religious worship or a place just before a bus stand and the served route happens to exceed the maximum permitted route length, then the Regional Transport Authority, in consultation with other stakeholders, namely, State Transport Undertakings, Local Bodies, Regional Transport Officer, etc., can permit the additional distance of up to 1 km in the served area so as to enable the passengers to reach the above mentioned needy places. This consideration shall not apply to other places apart from the above mentioned places."

7. In the present case, there is no dispute on this aspect, since the petitioner's terminal point is Railway Gate Western Entry, 4/6

which is 0.9 km away from the Periyar Bus Stand. The petitioner has also made a representation on 25.11.2025, seeking permission to enter into the Periyar Bus Stand. This Court is of the view that the operating of buses as well as mini buses are only to make convenient to the passengers to travel from one place to another place. Therefore, I do not find any impediment for the respondents to permit the petitioner to enter into the Periyar Bus stand, which will be more convenient for the passengers.

8. In view of the above, the first respondent is directed to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 25.11.2025 and permit the petitioner's Mini bus bearing Registration No. TN 58 S 7782 to enter into Periyar Bus stand from Railway Gate Western Entry.

9. With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

02.01.2026 vsm Index : Yes/No 5/6

KRISHNAN RAMASAMY, J.

vsm To

1. The District Collector Cum Regional Transport Authority, Madurai District, Madurai - 625 020.

2. The Regional Transport Officer, Madurai North, Madurai District.

W.P.(MD)No.36454 of 2025 02.01.2026 6/6