Authority: High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur

Order Date: 17/07/2026

Case Overview

  • Writ Petition (Civil) No. 2674 of 2022 filed by the State of Chhattisgarh (through the Secretary, Department of Transport) and the Regional Transport Authority, Raipur, against the State Transport Appellate Tribunal (STAT) order dated 24‑12‑2021.
  • Respondents: 1) Kanker Roadways (partner Nav Preet Singh Garcha), 2) Nandkishore Jain Bus Operator, 3) Harsh Gupta Bus Operator.
  • Background: Kanker Roadways held a permanent stage‑carriage permit No. 551/BTR/15 for the route Raipur‑Jagdalpur via Dhamtari, Kanker, Kondagaon. On 01‑09‑2017 it applied under section 80(3) of the Chhattisgarh Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 for a 23 km extension from Jagdalpur to Nagarnar (to serve the Nagarnar Iron Steel Plant).
  • The State Government issued a notification on 24‑12‑2019 under section 68 of the Motor Vehicle Act, consolidating all Regional Transport Authorities into a single RTA for the state.
  • Notice No. 53 dated 13‑11‑2020 was published on www.cgtransport.gov.in; no objections were received.
  • A virtual hearing was conducted on 25‑11‑2020. Respondent 2 objected on the ground of non‑compliance with section 72(3) (absence of certified route certificate); Respondent 3 objected to a clash of timing.
  • The RTA issued an order on 27‑01‑2021 (Case No. 62) rejecting the extension because the required certified route certificate was not attached.
  • Kanker Roadways appealed to the STAT under section 89 of the Motor Vehicle Act. The STAT, ignoring the statutory provisions, set aside the RTA order of 27‑01‑2021 and directed the RTA to extend the permit within two weeks, as per the previously sanctioned stage‑carriage permit.
  • The State filed the present writ petition challenging the STAT order.
  • The High Court had earlier, on 08‑08‑2022, stayed the effect of the STAT order dated 24‑12‑2021.

Final Outcome

  • The Court observed that the period of the permit granted to Kanker Roadways had already expired, leaving no substantive issue for adjudication; consequently, the writ petition was deemed academic.
  • The Court set aside/quashed the STAT order dated 24‑12‑2021.
  • The Court directed that Kanker Roadways may file a fresh application for a permit extension before the RTA, and the RTA is to consider such an application in accordance with the law.

Topics: Transport Permit, Judicial Review