1 2026:CGHC:23417 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 2647 of 2026 Sheetal S/o Maniram Yadav Aged About 32 Years Bus Operator, R/o Jhiria, Post Chandan, Distt. -Bemetara (C.G.) ... Petitioner versus 1. State of Chhattisgarh Through Secretary Department Transport, Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan, New Raipur (C.G.) 2. Secretary Regional Transport Authority, Durg Division, Sector -27, Nava Raipur Distt. -Raipur (C.G.) ... Respondents For Petitioner : Mr. B.L. Dembra, Advocate For Respondents : Mr. Amit Buxy, Dy. Govt. Advocate. Hon'ble Shri Justice Narendra Kumar Vyas Order on Board 21.05.2026 1. The petitioner has filed the instant petition seeking issuance of an appropriate writ, order, or direction directing respondent No. 2 to consider and decide the petitioner’s application dated 05.01.2026 for grant of a Permanent Stage Carriage Permit for the route Nandghat to Bemetara via Malda, Mau, Jhiria and Balsamund, with one return trip daily, in accordance with law. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is one of the bus operators and is plying his vehicle on the strength of a permit granted by the State Authorities. The petitioner submitted an application for grant ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Digitally signed by ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Date: 2026.05.21 18:08:12 +0530 2 of Permanent Stage Carriage Permit for the route Nandghat to Bemetara via Malda, Mau, Jhiria and Balsamund, with one return trip daily for a period of 5 years. He also submits that as per Rule 74(4) of the Motor Vehicles Rules, 1994, the authority is under an obligation to decide the application within 60 days. However, in the instant matter, more than 5 months have elapsed, but the same is still pending and no decision has been taken till date. Hence, this petition. 3. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the prayer made by learned counsel for the petitioner in the present petition. 4. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the documents appended thereto. 5. From the perusal of the pleadings and submissions advanced by learned counsel for the parties, it transpires that the petitioner is one of the bus operators and is plying his vehicle on the strength of permits granted by the State Authorities. The petitioner had submitted an application for grant of a Permanent Stage Carriage Permit for the route Nandghat to Bemetara via Malda, Mau, Jhiria and Balsamund, with one return trip daily, for a period of five years. It is further noticed that under Rule 74(4) of the Motor Vehicles Rules, 1994, the competent authority is required to consider and decide such application within a period of 60 days. However, in the present case, despite lapse of more than five months, the petitioner’s application is still pending consideration before the competent authority. 6. Considering the fact that the petitioner’s application is pending before the competent authority for a considerable period of time without any decision thereon, this Court deems it appropriate to direct respondent No. 2/Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Durg, to consider and decide 3 the petitioner’s application dated 05.01.2026 which is an application for grant of a Permanent Stage Carriage Permit for the route Nandghat to Bemetara via Malda, Mau, Jhiria and Balsamund, with one return trip daily, 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