Allowed

Eswaramoorthy.R v. the Regional Transport Officer

Madras HC17 Nov 2021WP(MD)/20516/2021

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

In a Writ Petition under Article 226, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court directed the Regional Transport Officer to return the petitioner's original driving license within three weeks. The Court held that since no final order cancelling or suspending the license was passed under the Motor Vehicles Act, the petitioner's right to the document remained intact even during the criminal investig

What did the court decide?

Direct the first respondent to return the petitioner's original driving license within three weeks from the date of the order.

Eswaramoorthy.R Vs the Regional Transport Officer — Service and Employment | Madras HC (2021)

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W.P.[MD]No.20516 of 2021

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 17.11.2021 CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.SUNDAR W.P.[MD]No.20516 of 2021

R.Eswaramoorthy

... Petitioner

Vs.

1.The Regional Transport Officer, Regional Transport Office, Collectorate Complex, Chettinayakkanpatti Post, Thadikombu Road,

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Dindigul – 624 001.

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2.The Regional Transport Officer, Regional Transport Office, Aravind Vaniga Valagam, Dindigul Road,

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Palani – 624 601.

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3.The Inspector of Police, Vedasandur Police Station,

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Vedasandur,

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Dindigul District.

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4.The Inspector of Police, Palani Town Police Station,

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Palani,

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Dindigul District. ... Respondents

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[R4 suo motu impleaded vide order dated 17.11.2021]

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P RAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the first and second respondents to return the petitioner's original driving license bearing No.TN 57 20130004050 to the petitioner forthwith.

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For Petitioner : S.Prasanth

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For Respondents : Mr.A.Baskaran

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Additional Government Pleader

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O R D E R

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Mr.S.Prasanth, learned Counsel on record for the writ petitioner is before this virtual Court.

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Learned counsel for writ petitioner submits that the writ petitioner is working as a private Driver with Transport operator from 2013. There was a fatal accident on 06.11.2021 when the writ https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/

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petitioner was behind the wheel/driving a transport bus. First Information Report (FIR) has been registered inter alia under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A of Indian Penal Code (IPC) on the file of Palani Town Police Station.

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The writ petitioner has arrayed the Inspector of Police, Vedasandur Police Station as respondent No.3. This Court is informed that this is incorrect and the FIR is on the file of Palani Town Police Station. Therefore, the Inspector of Police, Palani Town Police Station, Palani, Dindigul District is suo motu impleaded as fourth respondent. Registry to carry out necessary and consequential amendments in the case file before issuing a copy of this order. Though obvious, the amendment should be incorporated and reflected in the copy of the order also before uploading and before furnishing / sending certified copy to all concerned.

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The matter is still in FIR stage, but the original driving licence seized from the writ petitioner which is now with the first respondent i.e., Regional Transport Officer, Dindigul District (RTO), has not been returned to writ petitioner is learned writ petitioner Counsel's say.

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Adverting to earlier orders dated 30.04.2019 made in W.P.No.13570 of 2019 and 10.11.2020 made in W.P(MD).No.15797 of 2020 by Honourable Predecessor Single Judges, learned counsel submits that in similar matters, this Court has directed return of original driving licences to the licence holders.

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6. The above mentioned two orders are as follows: W.P.No.13570 of 2019 dated 30.04.2019 :

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“ Mr.V.Shanmuga Sundar, learned Special Government Pleader takes notice for the respondent. By consent, this Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal.

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2. In this Writ Petition, the petitioner challenges the impugned order of disqualifying his driving license passed by the respondent, dated 02.04.2019 under Section 19(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, (In short "the Act")

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3. According to the petitioner, the main ground raised in the present Writ Petition is that the impugned order passed by the respondent is a cryptic one and a nonspeaking order. The said order was passed in a printed format, therefore, the petitioner's explanation dated, 13.03.2019 was not at all considered by the respondent. It is further submitted that under Section 19(1) of the Act, the respondent ought to have granted an opportunity of being heard and without granting such opportunity, the https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ respondent passed the impugned order in an arbitrary

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manner and the same is liable to be set-aside.

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4. The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondent would submit that after getting explanation from the petitioner only, the impugned order has been passed and therefore, the petitioner was given opportunity to submit his explanation. However, the plea raised by the petitioner with regard to non-speaking order i.e., in a printed format the impugned order has been passed, the learned Special Government Pleader is not in a position to reply to the said ground raised by the petitioner.

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5. At this juncture, it would be useful to extract the impugned order passed by the respondent under Section 19(1)(c) of the Act:-

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https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/

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6. On a perusal of the aforesaid order, it is seen that firstly, the said order of the respondent is a cryptic order and a non-speaking one and no reason whatsoever has been passed. Secondly, an opportunity of personal hearing was not provided to the petitioner before passing the impugned order, which is in violation of https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/

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W.P.[MD]No.20516 of 2021

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Section 19 of the Act. Thirdly, the said order passed in a printed format and therefore, the order passed by the respondent was not a reasoned one, which is in total nonapplication of mind.

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7. In view of the aforesaid reason, this Court has no hesitation to set-aside the impugned order and passes the following order:

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(i) The impugned order passed by the respondent, dated 02.04.2019 is set aside;

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(ii) It is open to the respondent to pass orders after adhering the provisions contemplated under Section 19 of the Act i.e., an opportunity of being heard shall be granted to the petitioner before passing the impugned order and thereafter, shall pass the reasoned order, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order;

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(iii) The copy of this order shall be communicated to the Commissioner, Transport Department, Chepauk, Chennai600 005, who is directed to give necessary instructions to all the Licensing Authorities / Regional Transport Officers concerned to strictly comply with the Rules and pass reasoned orders under Section 19(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act.

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8. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is allowed. There is no order as to costs.”

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W.P(MD).No.15797 of 2020 dated 10.11.2020 :

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“ This writ petition has been filed for a Mandamus seeking for a direction to direct the respondents to return the original driving licence of the petitioner bearing DL No.TN67 19980002634 to him within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

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2.The case of the petitioner is that he was appointed as a Driver with the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Madurai)Ltd., and he is presently serving at Sattur Branch, Virudhunagar. According to him, due to an accident that happened on 06.10.2020, a First Information Report was registered against him in crime No.170 of 2020 by the TIW-II Police Station, Madurai City for the offence punishable under Sections 279 and 304A IPC.

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3.In the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition, the petitioner has stated that he was not responsible for the accident. According to him, his driving license was seized by the second respondent on 07.10.2020 and the same was handed over to the first respondent for taking action against the petitioner under https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/

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W.P.[MD]No.20516 of 2021

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Section 19(1)(C) of the Motor Vehicles Act. It is the case of the petitioner that till date no show cause notice has been issued by the first respondent to him. It is also the case of the petitioner that the second respondent has failed to follow the procedures as contemplated under Section 206(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act before seizing the license from the petitioner. In such circumstances, he has filed the present writ petition seeking the aforesaid relief.

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4.Mr.C.Ramesh, learned Special Government Pleader, accepts notice on behalf of the respondents. By consent of both parties, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.

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5.Heard Mr.A.Rahul, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr.C.Ramesh, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents.

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6.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner drew the attention of this Court to the orders passed in identical matters by this Court, wherein, this Court had directed the first respondent to return the original Driving Licence. This Court in all those decisions held that unless and until, the license issued by the competent authority is cancelled or suspended or revoked in the manner known to law, it is deemed to be in force. In the case on hand, the competent authority has not passed orders for cancellation or suspension or revocation of the driving license of the petitioner.

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7.However, it is contended by the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents that show cause notice has been issued to the petitioner for cancellation of licence under Section 19 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which is disputed by the learned counsel for the petitioner.

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8.Admittedly, no final order has been passed by the first respondent under Section 19 of the Motor Vehicles Act impounding the licence of the petitioner. This being the case, the decisions relied upon by the learned counsel for the petitioner squarely applies to the facts of the instant case.

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9.In the case on hand, even without passing any order for cancellation or suspension or revocation of the licence, the respondents have seized the driving licence of the petitioner. The petitioner is admittedly, employed https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/

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W.P.[MD]No.20516 of 2021

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as Driver in Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Madurai)Ltd. He has to eke out his livelihood and therefore, without driving licence, he cannot continue his duty as a Driver with Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation(Madurai)Ltd. Since no final order has been passed under Section 19 of the Motor Vehicles Act, the original licence of the petitioner will have to be necessarily returned back to the petitioner by the respondents.

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10.For the foregoing reasons, this Court directs the respondents to return the petitioner's original driving licence bearing DL No.TN67 19980002634 to the petitioner, within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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11.With the aforesaid direction, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. ”

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Mr.A.Baskaran, learned Additional Government Pleader accepts notice on behalf of all the respondents.

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Learned State counsel submits, on instructions, that the matter is in FIR stage and prosecution will be pursued. However, there is no disputation qua the aforementioned earlier orders made by Honourable Predecessor Judges and the same having been complied with by the State without carrying the matter in appeal by way of intra-court appeals.

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In the light of the narrative thus far, this Court is of the considered view that the prayer, namely the prayer to return the original driving licence [bearing licence No.TN5720130004050] of the writ petitioner can be acceded to.

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This Court is informed that the original driving licence is now with the first respondent. The first respondent shall take necessary written undertaking, retain photocopies of the original driving licence and return the writ petitioner's aforementioned original driving licence to writ petitioner (under due acknowledgment) as early as possible and in any event within three [3] weeks from today i.e., on or before 08.12.2021. The writ petitioner shall go over to the office of the first respondent on any working day after 19.11.2021 in the after noon session between 02.00 PM and 04.00 PM and the original driving licence shall be handed over to him under due acknowledgment.

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It is made clear that the writ petitioner shall produce the original driving licence as and when called for, make himself available for the criminal case to proceed and cooperate with the https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/

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investigation.

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12. Captioned Writ Petition is disposed of in aforesaid manner i.e., with aforementioned directive without any order as to costs. Sd/-

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Assistant Registrar (CS-I)

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// True Copy //

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/ /2021 Sub Assistant Registrar(CS)

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NOTE: In view of the present lock down owing to COVID-19 pandemic, a web copy of the order may be utilized for official purposes, but, ensuring that the copy of the order that is presented is the correct copy, shall be the responsibility of the advocate/litigant concerned.

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1.The Regional Transport Officer, Regional Transport Office, Collectorate Complex, Chettinayakkanpatti Post, Thadikombu Road, Dindigul – 624 001. 2.The Regional Transport Officer, Regional Transport Office, Aravind Vaniga Valagam, Dindigul Road, Palani – 624 601. 3.The Inspector of Police, Vedasandur Police Station, Vedasandur, Dindigul District. 4.The Inspector of Police, Palani Town Police Station, Palani, Dindigul District. +1 CC to M/s.SPL GP ( SR-34966[F] dated 18/11/2021 )

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W.P.[MD]No.20516 of 2021 17.11.2021

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RD(26.11.2021) 8P 6C

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https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/

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Eswaramoorthy.R v. the Regional Transport Officer

Case brief

What is this about?

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Eswaramoorthy.R v. the Regional Transport Officer

Case brief

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