- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14848 WP No. 6904 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO.6904 OF 2026 (MV) BETWEEN: SRI P.V. ANAND KUMAR AGED 54 YEARS, S/O LATE VEERAPPA P.V., RESIDING AT BLOCK NO.14, INDIRANAGAR, THALATHMANE, MADIKERI TOWN AND POST-571 201 KODAGU DISTRICT. …PETITIONER (BY SRI N. JAGADISH BALIGA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, REPRESENTED BY UNDER SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT, M. S. BUILDING, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR ROAD, BENGALURU-561 001. 2. THE REGINAL TRANSPORT OFFICER (RTO), MADIKERI- 571 201, KODAGU DISTRICT. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. RASHMI RAO, HCGP FOR R-1 & R-2) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER WRIT OR DIRECTION DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION DATED 31-12- 2025 PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-A AND THEREBY DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO NOT TO PUT ANY CONDITION IN THE PERMIT OF PLYING OF 15 KMS RADIUS. Digitally signed by MAHALAKSHMI B M Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14848 WP No. 6904 of 2026 THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA ORAL ORDER The present writ petition is filed seeking a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to consider the representation dated 31.12.2025 (Annexure-A) and to direct the respondents not to impose any condition restricting the plying of petitioner's EV auto rickshaw within a radius of 15 kilometers. 2. Learned HCGP for respondents submits that the authority competent to consider the application/ representation relating to grant of permit is the Regional Transport Authority as contemplated under Section 74 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, (‘MV Act' for short) and not the Regional Transport Officer to whom the petitioner has submitted the representation. 3. The said submission is placed on record. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14848 WP No. 6904 of 2026 4. At this stage, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that liberty may be granted to the petitioner to submit application/ representation to the competent authority, namely the Regional Transport Authority. 5. In light of the submission made, the writ petition stands disposed of granting liberty to the petitioner to submit application/representation to the Regional Transport Authority as envisaged under Section 74 of the MV Act within a period of 1 (one) week from the date of receipt of the copy of this order. If such a representation is submitted, the Regional Transport Authority shall consider the same in accordance with law and pass appropriate orders within 2 (two) weeks thereafter. Sd/- _____________________ JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA TSN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 35