1 2026:CGHC:23420 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 2636 of 2026 Rajesh Dewangan S/o Ramadhin Dewangan Aged About 56 Years Bus Operator, Presently R/o Ward No. 13, Near Jain Mandir, Simga, Tahsil Simga Distt. Balodabazar-Bhatapara Chhattisgarh ... Petitioner versus 1. State of Chhattisgarh Through Secretary, Department of Transport, Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, New Raipur Chhattisgarh 2. Secretary Regional Transport Authority, Durg Division, Sector 27, Nava Raipur Distt. Raipur Chhattisgarh ... Respondents For Petitioner : Mr. B.L. Dembra, Advocate For Respondents : Mr. Suyash Dhar Badgaiya, Govt. Advocate. Hon'ble Shri Justice Narendra Kumar Vyas Order on Board 21.05.2026 1. The petitioner has filed the instant petition assailing the inaction on the part of respondent No. 2 and seeking a direction for consideration and disposal of the petitioner’s application dated 08.09.2025 for renewal of Permanent Stage Carriage Permit No. 113/DRG/2019 pertaining to the route Raipur to Kawardha via Dharsiva, Simga, Bemetara, Dashrangpur, with one return trip daily, in accordance with law. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is one of the bus operator and plying his vehicle on the strength of permit granted by ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Digitally signed by ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Date: 2026.05.21 18:08:13 +0530 2 the state authorities. Permanent Stage Carriage was granted by the authorities in favour of the petitioner bearing no. 113/DRG/2019 for the route Raipur to Kawardha via Dharsiva, Simga, Bemetara, Dashrangpur with one return trip daily for a period of 5 years. It is further submitted that before expiry of the above said permit the petitioner has made an application for renewal of the aforesaid permit on 30.04.2024, but due to some tax dues in relation to other vehicle owned by the petitioner, the application of the petitioner was rejected and thereafter the petitioner has cleared all the tax dues of other vehicles and again made an application on 08.09.2025, but till date same has been kept pending and now the meeting for hearing the application is scheduled to be held soon, therefore this petition is being filed. He also submits that as per Rule 74 of the Motor vehicle Rules 1994, the authority is under obligation to decide the the application within 60 days and in the instant matter, more than 7 months have been lapsed, but till date, the same is kept pending and no decision has been taken. Hence, this petition. 3. On the other hand, learned State counsel submits that the petitioner had applied for renewal of the aforesaid permit on 30.04.2024, however, on account of certain outstanding tax dues relating to another vehicle owned by the petitioner, the petitioner’s application came to be rejected. 4. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the documents appended thereto. 5. Considering the fact that the petitioner is a bus operator and is plying his vehicle of a permit granted by the State authorities, and further considering that a Permanent Stage Carriage Permit bearing No. 113/DRG/2019 for the route Raipur to Kawardha via Dharsiva, Simga, Bemetara, Dashrangpur, with one return trip daily, had been granted in 3 favour of the petitioner for a period of five years, this Court finds that prior to expiry of the said permit, the petitioner had submitted an application for renewal on 30.04.2024. However, on account of certain outstanding tax dues relating to another vehicle owned by the petitioner, the said application came to be rejected and the petitioner has subsequently cleared all outstanding tax dues pertaining to the other vehicles and thereafter submitted a fresh application on 08.09.2025, which is still pending consideration before the competent authority. 6. In view of above, learned State counsel is directed to verify the claim of the petitioner as to whether all outstanding tax dues relating to the other vehicles have been cleared. In the event the said claim is found to be correct, respondent No. 2/Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Durg, is directed to consider and decide the petitioner’s application dated 08.09.2025 for renewal of Permanent Stage Carriage Permit No. 113/DRG/2019, strictly in accordance with law, within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 7. Accordingly, this petition stands disposed of with the aforesaid directions. Sd/- (Narendra Kumar Vyas) Judge Abhishek