1 2026:CGHC:26481 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 3173 of 2026 1 - Jag Bai Verma W/o Puniram Verma Aged About 70 Years R/o Village Patrapali, Dokda, Jashpur, Distt. Jashpur Chhattisgarh ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - Regional Transport Authority, Chhattisgarh O/o 3rd Floor, Sector 27, Nava Raipur, Distt. Raipur Chhattisgarh ... Respondents (Cause-title taken from the Case Information System) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For Petitioner(s) :- Ms. Mamta Mahilange, Advocate For State :- Mr. Anand Dadariya, Dy. A.G. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SB- Hon'ble Shri Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad Order On Board 30.06.2026 1. Heard. 2. The present petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India has been filed by the petitioner seeking a direction to the respondents to consider and decide her application dated 10.04.2026 for grant of a regular stage carriage permit on the route Tolma to Bagicha with one return trip daily. VISHAKHA BEOHAR Digitally signed by VISHAKHA BEOHAR 2 3. It is the case of the petitioner that she is engaged in transport business on the strength of valid permits issued by the competent transport authorities. The petitioner submitted an online application on 10.04.2026 along with requisite fee of Rs. 2,500/- for grant of stage carriage permit on the aforesaid route, however, despite lapse of considerable time, the same has not been decided. 4. Following reliefs have been prayed in this petition:- “1The Hon'ble Court may issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to decide the application of the petitioner for grant of regular stage carriage permit on the Tolma to Bagicha and one return trip daily and to grant the same in accordance with the provisions of Motor Vehicle Act. 2.Any other relief which the Hon'ble Court may deems fit and proper may also be granted in favour of the petitioner.” 5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the application for grant of stage carriage permit is pending consideration before the respondent authority since 10.04.2026. It is further submitted that as per Rule 74(4) of the Chhattisgarh Motor Vehicles Rules, 1994, such applications are required to be decided within a period of 60 days, however, the respondent authority has failed to do so, therefore, appropriate direction be issued to the competent authority to decide the application within a time-bound period. 3 6. Per contra, learned State counsel submits that the application of the petitioner shall be considered and decided by the competent authority in accordance with law and within a reasonable time, if a direction is issued by this Court. 7. From the perusal of the pleadings and submissions advanced by learned counsel for the parties, it transpires that the petitioner has submitted an application for grant of regular stage carriage permit, which is admittedly pending before the competent authority since 10.04.2026. 8. It is further noticed that Rule 74(4) of the Chhattisgarh Motor Vehicles Rules, 1994 contemplates consideration and decision of such applications within a reasonable period of time. However, despite lapse of considerable time, no decision has been taken on the petitioner’s application. 9. In view of the admitted factual position and the statement made by learned State counsel, this Court is of the considered opinion that the ends of justice would be met if a direction is issued to the competent authority to decide the petitioner’s application within a time-bound period. 10. Accordingly, the petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No. 1/Regional Transport Authority, Chhattisgarh, to consider and decide the petitioner’s application dated 10.04.2026 for grant of stage carriage permit on the route Tolma to Bagicha with one return trip daily, strictly in accordance with law, by 4 passing a reasoned and speaking order, within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. 11. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the claim of the petitioner and all issues are left open to be decided by the competent authority in accordance with law. 12. With the aforesaid direction, the petition stands disposed of. 13. No order as to costs. sd/- (Amitendra Kishore Prasad) Judge Vishakha