M/S. Bright Autozone Private Limited and Ors. Vs State of West Bengal and Ors.

24.01.2024 rc/ct.no.10 Item No.690

WPA No. 358 of 2024 Bright Autozone Private Limited Versus The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. N. I. Khan Mr. A.K.Mukherjee ..for the Petitioner Mr. Pantu Deb Roy …for the State Ms. Afroja Nusrat …for the respondent no.6

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Affidavit of service filed by the petitioner is taken on record.

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Heard learned counsels for the parties.

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The memo issued on 13^th January, 2022 has been assailed by the writ petitioner in the present writ petition. The memo dated 13^th January, 2022 restricts registration of battery operated eco-friendly e-rickshaw in terms of the order passed in Title Suit No.27 of 2018 by learned Additional District Judge, 13^th Court, Alipore on 24^th February, 2020. The said order restrains the authority from registering the battery operated eco-friendly e- rickshaw till disposal of the suit.

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It is submitted on behalf of the petitioner that the battery manufactured by the petitioner is lead cell battery which is distinct and different from the battery manufactured by the plaintiff in the title suit.

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A co-ordinate Bench of this Court, in an order passed on 16^th February, 2022 in WPA 2070 of 2022, has dealt with a similar issue and has directed the Transport

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Directorate, Government of West Bengal to instruct the concerned regional transport offices to grant registration to the e-vehicles manufactured by the petitioner therein subject to the said vehicles being different and distinct from the category forming the subject matter of the title suit.

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The petitioner claims to be similarly circumstanced with the petitioner in the earlier writ petition since the battery manufactured by them is distinct and different from that of the battery which is the subject matter of the title suit.

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The petitioner further submitd that Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 has been complied with by them.

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Learned counsel for the private respondent seeks an order in terms of the order passed by the co-ordinate bench on 18^th February, 2022 in modifying the earlier order passed on 16^th February, 2022. The order passed on 16^th February, 2022 was modified to the extent that the registering authority shall be at liberty to consider all the relevant materials with regard to the pending proceedings in Title Suit No.27 of 2018 at the time of registration of the petitioner’s e-vehicles.

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Learned counsel for the private respondent as well as the petitioner consent to an order in the present writ petition in terms of the modified order passed by the coordinate Bench.

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Learned counsel for the private respondent draws the attention of this Court to a judgment passed by a Division Bench of this Court on 2^nd May, 2023 in FMA 623 of 2022 wherein the Hon’ble Division Bench has deprecated an application for special leave to appeal under Section 96 of the Code of Civil Procedure by the petitioner therein on the ground that the petitioner filed an application before the trial court under Order I Rule 10 of the Code for being added as a party respondent therein. The petitioner chose not to pursue the said application and approached the Hon’ble Division Bench under Section 96 of the Code. In the judgment under reference the Hon’ble Division Bench held that the appropriate course of action would be to pursue the application already made in Order I Rule 10 of the Civil Procedure Code before the trial Court. The ratio of the said judgment can be distinguished from the facts and circumstances of the present case wherein the petitioner has not applied before the learned trial Court for being added as a party therein.

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In view of the above, the writ petition is disposed of directing the Director, Transport Directorate, Government of West Bengal, being the 3^rd respondent herein, to issue necessary direction upon the concerned regional transport offices to grant registration to the e-vehicles manufactured by the petitioner subject to the said vehicles being different and distinct from the category forming subject matter of the title suit pending before the learned Additional District

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Judge, 13^th Court, Alipore and also subject to compliance with Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 and all other formalities prescribed under the Act/Rules by the petitioner and also upon consideration of relevant documents to be placed by the petitioner before the authority.

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The registering authority shall be at liberty to consider all relevant material regarding the pending proceedings in the title suit No.27 of 2018 at the time of registration of the petitioner’s e-vehicles.

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The entire exercise should be completed within two months from the date of communication of this order.

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With the above observations and directions the writ petition is disposed of.

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There shall, however, be no order as to costs. Since no affidavit is invited, the allegations contained in the petition are deemed not to be admitted.

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Urgent certified website copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties upon compliance with all requisite formalities.

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(Suvra Ghosh,J)

M/S. Bright Autozone Private Limited and Ors. v. State of West Bengal and Ors.

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M/S. Bright Autozone Private Limited and Ors. v. State of West Bengal and Ors.

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