2025:KER:28686 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HARISANKAR V. MENON WEDNESDAY, THE 2ND DAY OF APRIL 2025 / 12TH CHAITHRA, 1947 WP(C) NO. 13274 OF 2023 PETITIONERS: 1 FIROZ KHAN, AGED 41 YEARS, S/O ABDUL RASAK, RESIDING AT NO. 25/984 D2, THUPPALI PARAMBA, CHIPPILIPORA, KUTTIYIL THAZHAM, SREE GURUVAYUR APPAN COLLEGE (POST), KOZHIKODE., PIN – 673014. 2 ABDU RAZAK. M.P., AGED 61 YEARS, S/O IBRAHIM. M.P, RESIDING AT NO. 25/1110, SAKARIA MANZIL, KINASSERI, SREE GURUVAYUR APPAN COLLEGE (POST), KOZHIKODE, PIN-673014. 3 REGI, AGED 56 YEARS, S/O CHANDRAN, RESIDING AT NO. 24/317, KALARIKKANDY (HOUSE), AZHCHAVATTAM, MANKAV (POST), KOZHIKODE, PIN-673007. 4 SATHEESHAN P.,AGED 54 YEARS, S/O GOVINDAN, RESIDING AT PAREKKAD (HOUSE), CHALISSERY PARAMBU, NALLALAM (POST), MANKAV KOZHIKODE, PIN-673027. 5 VINOD KUMAR, AGED 49 YEARS, S/O ARUMUKHAN, RESIDING AT MANKARATHODI, VALLATHUM PADAM, NALLALAM (POST), KOZHIKODE-673027. 6 RIYAS P @ RIYAS PULIKKAL, AGED 40 YEARS, S/O ABDUL RASAK PULIKKAL, RESIDING AT JAMEELA MANZIL, THOMMANILAM PARAMBA, MANKAV (POST), KOZHIKODE-673007. BY ADV JESWIN P.VARGHESE W.P.(C)No.13274 of 2023 2 2025:KER:28686 RESPONDENTS: 1 STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, SECRETARIAT, TRIVANDRUM., PIN – 695001. 2 THE TRANSPORT COMMISSIONER, HAVING OFFICE AT SECOND FLOOR, TRANS TOWERS, VAZHUTHAKKAD (POST), TRIVANDRUM-695014. 3 THE DEPUTY TRANSPORT COMMISSIONER (NORTH ZONE), OFFICE OF DTO, CIVIL STATION, KOZHIKODE-673020. 4 THE REGIONAL TRANSPORT AUTHORITY (RTA), CIVIL STATION, KOZHIKODE. REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, PIN-673020. 5 THE REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICER, CIVIL STATION, KOZHIKODE-673020. OTHER PRESENT: SRI T JAYAN GP THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 02.04.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: W.P.(C)No.13274 of 2023 3 2025:KER:28686 JUDGMENT The petitioners have filed the captioned writ petition pointing out that they purchased LPG Auto rickshaws and that they have been granted city permits for the Auto rickshaws. However, the petitioners contend that the Auto rickshaws were having various technical issues, on account of which they required to surrender the permits issued to them and to obtain a fresh permit for using CNG based Auto rickshaws. 2. I have heard Sri.Jeswin P.Varghese, the learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri.T.Jayan, the learned Government Pleader. 3. This Court notices that the petitioners were originally granted LPG City permits. The learned Government Pleader would point out with reference to written instructions that the permits were allocated, on the basis of the fuel that was used and therefore since the permits issued to the petitioners were LPG based, there cannot be a fresh permit on CNG basis. W.P.(C)No.13274 of 2023 4 2025:KER:28686 4. However, I notice that the petitioners have pointed out about the practical difficulties faced by them. The petitioners further point out that they are ready and willing to even surrender the LPG city permits so that they can obtain the CNG city permit. I am of the opinion that the stand of the petitioners that they may be permitted to surrender the LPG city permits can be accepted, since that will not make any change in the total permits being issued. Therefore, this writ petition is ordered by permitting the petitioners to surrender the LPG city permits and directing the 3rd, 4th and 5th respondents herein to issue CNG city permits to the petitioners, within a period of six weeks from today. Sd/- HARISANKAR V. MENON JUDGE ANA W.P.(C)No.13274 of 2023 5 2025:KER:28686 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 13274/2023 PETITIONER EXHIBITS Exhibit P1 A TRUE COPY OF GOVT. ORDER (P) NO. 41/2018/TRAN DATED 22.11.2018 Exhibit P2 A TRUE COPY OF GOVT. ORDER (RT) NO. 388/2020/TRANS ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 18.11.2020 Exhibit P3 A TRUE COPY OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF 1ST PETITIONER’S LPG AUTO-RICKSHAW BEARING REG. NO. KL 11 BT 7092 Exhibit P4 A TRUE COPY OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF 2ND PETITIONER’S LPG AUTO-RICKSHAW BEARING REG. NO. KL 11 BT 7087 Exhibit P5 A TRUE COPY OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF 3RD PETITIONER’S LPG AUTO-RICKSHAW BEARING REG. NO. KL 11 BT 7039 Exhibit P6 A TRUE COPY OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF 4TH PETITIONER’S LPG AUTO-RICKSHAW BEARING REG. NO. KL 85 1358 Exhibit P7 A TRUE COPY OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF 5TH PETITIONER’S LPG AUTO-RICKSHAW BEARING REG. NO. KL 85 1324 Exhibit P8 A TRUE COPY OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF 6TH PETITIONER’S LPG AUTO-RICKSHAW BEARING REG. NO. KL 11 BT 7017 Exhibit P9 A TRUE COPY OF CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT NO. KL2021-CC-4917A ISSUED TO 1ST PETITIONER BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT DATED 29.01.2021 Exhibit P10 A TRUE COPY OF CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT NO. KL2021-CC-4915A ISSUED TO 2ND PETITIONER BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT DATED 29.01.2021 Exhibit P11 A TRUE COPY OF CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT W.P.(C)No.13274 of 2023 6 2025:KER:28686 NO. KL2021-CC-4913A ISSUED TO 3RD PETITIONER BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT DATED 29.01.2021 Exhibit P12 A TRUE COPY OF CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT NO. KL2021-CC-4912A ISSUED TO 4TH PETITIONER BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT DATED 29.01.2021 Exhibit P13 A TRUE COPY OF CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT NO. KL2021-CC-4921A ISSUED TO 5TH PETITIONER BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT DATED 29.01.2021 Exhibit P14 A TRUE COPY OF CONTRACT CARRIAGE PERMIT NO. KL2021-CC-5515A ISSUED TO 6TH PETITIONER BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT DATED 02.02.2021 Exhibit P15 A TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONERS BEFORE THE 5TH RESPONDENT DATED 02.03.2023 Exhibit P16 A TRUE COPY OF LETTER NO.1/127915/2023 ISSUED BY THE 5TH RESPONDENT DATED 02.06.2023 Exhibit P17 A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED TO THE 5TH RESPONDENT BY ONE YOOSUF UNDER THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT DATED 26.04.2023 Exhibit P18 A TRUE COPY OF THE REPLY ISSUED BY THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER ATTACHED TO THE OFFICE OF 5TH RESPONDENT WIDE LETTER NO.11A3/163/2023-KL11 DATED 15.05.2023 Exhibit P19 A TRUE COPY OF RC PARTICULARS OF CNG AUTO RICKSHAW BELONGS TO 1ST PETITIONER BEARING REG. NO. KL 41 Q 1327 Exhibit P20 A TRUE COPY OF RC PARTICULARS OF CNG AUTO RICKSHAW BELONGS TO THE 2ND PETITIONER BEARING REG. NO. KL 39 N 6668 Exhibit P21 A TRUE COPY OF RC PARTICULARS OF CNG AUTO RICKSHAW BELONGS TO 5TH PETITIONER BEARING W.P.(C)No.13274 of 2023 7 2025:KER:28686 REG. NO. KL 11 BV 0167 Exhibit P22 A TRUE COPY OF RC PARTICULARS OF CNG AUTO RICKSHAW BELONGS TO 6TH PETITIONER BEARING REG. NO. KL 55 AE 3433 Exhibit P23 A TRUE COPY OF ONLINE RECEIPT FOR REMITTING RS.360/- BY THE 2ND PETITIONER DATED 01.02.2024 Exhibit P24 A TRUE COPY OF ONLINE RECEIPT FOR REMITTING RS.360/- BY THE 5TH PETITIONER DATED 29.01.2024 Exhibit P25 A TRUE COPY OF ONLINE RECEIPT FOR REMITTING RS.360/- BY THE 6TH PETITIONER DATED 29.01.2024 Exhibit P26 A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 1ST PETITIONER BEFORE 3RD RESPONDENT DATED 01.02.2024 Exhibit P27 A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 1ST PETITIONER BEFORE 5TH RESPONDENT DATED 01.02.2024 Exhibit P28 A true copy of the application submitted by Sri. Yusuff. T before the 5th respondent dated 26.04.2023 Exhibit P29 A true copy of Letter No. 11A3/163/2023- KL11 issued by the Public Information Officer attached to the office of the 5th respondent dated 15.05.2023