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The Federation of Bus Operators Association v. State of Tamilnadu

Madras HC8 Oct 2025WP/37168/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Bus fare revision Tamil Nadu; Federation of Bus Operators Association of Tamil Nadu; W.P.No.37168 of 2025; Madras High Court; V. Lakshminarayanan, J.; order dated 20.02.2026; Expert Committee report submitted 19.02.2026; Transport Commissioner forwarded report to Home Department; compliance with order dated 08.10.2025; default clause; State Government to decide by 26.02.2026; matter posted to 26.02.2026; interim/procedural order, no merits decided; no statute or precedent cited.

What did the court decide?

Interim compliance direction: the State Government (first respondent) to take a call on the fare revision by 26.02.2026, failing which the default clause passed earlier applies to the first respondent also; matter posted to 26.02.2026. ¶30

The Federation of Bus Operators Association Vs State of Tamilnadu — Madras HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents (State of Tamil Nadu and the Transport Commissioner) would comply with the Court's direction of 08.10.2025 to pass final orders on the request for revision of bus fares made by the members of the petitioner Association.

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Court's answer

The Court recorded that the second respondent (Transport Commissioner) had complied with its earlier order, the Expert Committee's report having been submitted on 19.02.2026 and forwarded by him to the first respondent to pass appropriate orders; accordingly he appeared in Court despite compliance.

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Ratio / Principle

The Court granted the first respondent (State of Tamil Nadu) time until 26.02.2026 to take a decision on the fare revision, failing which the default clause passed earlier would apply to the first respondent as well, and posted the matter to 26.02.2026.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (V. Lakshminarayanan, J.), order dated 20.02.2026 in W.P.No.37168 of 2025 — Federation of Bus Operators Association of Tamil Nadu v. State of Tamil Nadu and the Transport Commissioner. Interim compliance-monitoring order arising from the Court's direction dated 08.10.2025 that the respondents pass final orders on the Association's request for revision of bus fares. The Court recorded that the Expert Committee constituted by the Government submitted its report on 19.02.2026 and that the second respondent (Transport Commissioner) forwarded the report to the first respondent (Secretary, Home Department) to pass appropriate orders, thereby complying with the earlier order and the default clause fixed on 07.01.2026. The Additional Advocate General stated that the State Government would take a call shortly; the Court directed the State to do so by 26.02.2026, warning that otherwise the default clause passed earlier would apply to the first respondent also, and posted the matter to 26.02.2026. No statutory provision or precedent was cited; no issue on merits was decided.

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W.P.No.37168 of 2025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 20.02.2026

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN

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W.P.No.37168 of 2025

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The Federation of Bus Operators Association of Tamil Nadu, Represented by its Secretary, 6, Bishop Wallers Avenue (East), Chennai – 600 004.

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.. Petitioner

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Vs.

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State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by Secretary, Home Department, Fort Saint George, Chennai – 600 009.

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The Transport Commissioner, Guindy, Chennai – 600 032. .. Respondents

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For Petitioner : Mr.M.Palani

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For Respondents : Mr.Haza Nazurddin, Additional Advocate General for Mr.M.Shajahan Special Government pleader

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.37168 of 2025

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O R D E R

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In terms of the order of this Court dated 08.10.2025, the respondents were called upon to pass final orders on the request of the revision of fares made by the members of the writ petitioner Association. When the matter was called for compliance on 07.01.2026, it was represented by Mr.M.Shajahan and Mr.Hari Babu that an Expert Committee had been formed by the Government and they were finalising the report. It was stated that the report was essential for the second respondent to pass further orders and forward it to the first respondent. I called upon the second respondent to take a call and extended time till 19.02.2026. In default, I called upon his appearance in Court.

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When the matter was called today, Mr.Haja Nazuruddin, Additional Advocate General appearing for the respondents has produced instructions from the second respondent. For ready reference, the instructions are scanned and extracted hereunder:

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.37168 of 2025

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The report shows that the Expert Committee has submitted the

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report on 19.02.2026 and acting on the said report, the second respondent

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has forwarded the same to the first respondent to pass appropriate orders.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.37168 of 2025

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Despite the fact that the second respondent had complied with the order, he is present in the Court. Mr.Haja Nazuruddin, Additional Advocate General states that the State Government will take a call shortly. They shall do so by 26.02.2026. Otherwise default clause passed earlier applies to the first respondent also.

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