Swapan Biswas v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

17th November, 2021 (D/L No.38) (SKB) W.P.A. 16537 of 2021 (Via Video Conference) Swapan Biswas

Versus

State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. N. I. Khan, Mr. Amlan Kumar Mukherjee ... for the petitioner.

Mr. Asish Kumar Guha, Mr. Naren Ghosh ... for the State.

Affidavit of service filed in Court today be kept with the records.

It appears from the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner that the application of the petitioner for grant of a Stage Carriage Permit was resolved by a resolution of the Regional Transport Authority, Purba Bardhaman in its meeting held on 20th June, 2019 that the matter was deferred until compliance of new provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and the Rules.

Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner places a document dated 2nd January, 2020 from the Regional Transport Officer, Purba Bardhaman to the Regional Transport Officer, Hooghly, which states that as per the decision of the Regional Transport Authority Board, Purba Bardhaman, grant of inter regional Stage Carriage Permit will have to be made through a joint

conference under the provisions of the West Bengal Motor Vehicle Rule, 1989. Counsel submits that till date no joint conference has been held or date indicated for such.

The State is represented and submits that both the Regional Transport Authority should be directed to hold a joint conference.

Upon hearing learned counsel, this court is of the view that W.P.A.16537 of 2021 may be disposed of by directing the Regional Transport Officer, Purba Bardhaman and the Regional Transport Officer, Hooghly being respondent nos.2, 5 and 7 respectively to hold a joint conference for granting inter regional Stage Carriage Permit to the petitioner within a period of four weeks from date. The respondents shall hear all relevant parties including petitioner, if so required. It is made clear that in the event the petitioner is found to be eligible, the concerned authorities shall take appropriate steps thereafter for grant of the Stage Carriage Permit to the petitioner which shall not be later than three weeks from which such decision is taken. The W.P.A.16537 of 2021 is disposed of in terms of the above.

Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be made available to the parties upon compliance with the requisite formalities.

(Moushumi Bhattacharya, J.)