Karnataka High Court
The Principal Secretary To Government vs Prakash Nayak on 15 June, 2011
Author: H.G.Ramesh
Bench: H.G.Ramesh
I
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BANGALORE
DATED THIS THE 15?" DAY OF JUNE 1201 E
PRESENT
THE HONBLE MR.J.S.KHEHAR. CHIEF
mg HONBLE MR.JUS'E'ICE2 2 = H
Writ AS1363} Na.38g§3~ .'2Qo51{M$k}'Ar--%jr»% A
Between
E.
Ex)
The Principal S€creiaI'Yjv_t::,€1\zr%1ttir11€:nt'.:
Transport Department " .
M.S.Bui1ding, Bar1ga10r€;_--__1
The Regienal Trari'§1jQrt'.Oiffi§:ei*-- " _
Bangalore East. BDA CL; rr1p1eX_>.V __
Indiranagarj; Bang'éiI©r§€: " V' L .V "
The Staié .'QfI_K.ar:*1£:{:.aka V
Rep b:y_VScj¢I.fVetar'j¥r» :_d'rA€3-Qvernrrgerri:
Hgmti _2ii';(i"Yr;e;:1spQ1*t 'Dép-3 rtrilent
M.S.B1i'i'i:i:;r1g;?.TZf'"'?--Fixzixor_ r
Zrid phase ';:}r,£xr1:?:rs:_€£kar Veedhi
Bar'1gaEore%1.V_ ' '
The Cor5:1r.r1i;<3si«:3n€>r for Trarisperts
. A' '5;1Kar'11a_taka}'; \5:h.F10or, M.S.Bui1ding
Drifigrtrbadkar Veedhi, Bangalered
Revg;i's§{:riAfV;gg:"Auihority and
"Regi0':':.:;,}. Transport Officer
a}_f'é3Lr:-:z;gar, Bangalore Smith
, Re'g1étering Authority
_ "arzd Regfianai Transporii C}ff£e:':€:r
'ffjemirai Karamangala.
Bazigaiars
Reg_§:$i;sr£r:;;§ Arzzrrherirgf Eiféd
§~€:::~,;;;'§.<;r:aLi T':*a;:s;p<::>r: €§ffi»::te:*
R2:_§2;V§§:':e2;;;arr§ E£iar:g;»j:;zE::;::*:5 E?i/233:.
1e'vy~3tfee x1';"1U.S"[ f1'eee_e_eari1y%i
4
as the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 is concerned, even though
there are provisions Sfipillélfillg the preseripttoh-.t_:euf fee,
[aiohg with appheatiens for grant and :'e:1ex¥.?e;.§"é;:§_'}i.eett_eeS,
ete,) there is he such specific provision for.-*Eew§ing~.feeA, when
computerised deeuments are isS=s;ec},~Itf?u%et:1eI"'be"
to mentieh that the respehtdtehtt hefeivt
action of the State ef aefdittional fee
for supplying e0mpute_\§1=.3ed'_V: The plea
raised by the Ar_e$por'1Adevh_i:, t'tve:eir}"";tVetvS»v---eeeepted by the
learned Sing}?
f3;".V H Inf". _ feats ahdv circumstances noticed
hereinefhetse, it_W:i's_.theh"e_:§ih__rrton submission of the iearned
counsel feethe fiVai.pa.1fties, that the source of power to
gtraeed from Section 211 ef the
9%
13./Ietiar 'JeVhttC;1teS Act, 1988. Section 211 is accordingly being
extreteted h"e-hétzndet':
"Pe;vet*' to levy fee.» Any rule which the Central
Ciexéierhrhent or the State Gevernment is empowered
ttfmake under thie Act may, notwithstanding the
'"fEtb$€r1C€ ef ahy exgress prevtsien te that effect,
'previde fer the levy ef Stztth fees; 21:1 respectt ef
appiieatiiehs, amendment of deeureents, tssgue ef
{7€f§T,if§Ci3C{,€S; Etiéertttee, germitee 'ii€E~}fSt e1:d<>:*eemeete,
hedges, pietee, {f£}{:12§€§~E-E§g£'1&1'itii"€S, atzthertsatieht
:~s:::pp§y :35 et;e;tti:'::ttes~;; es? eepzfee at dezttttmehts er ereiere
and fat' 31:13? <>the:* pt:/xrpeee er ezefitter itztzehzihgg
:*e;'1deri:2g ef 2:g:2§; E§»€§"«:'§t:?€ hf; the eftittere er euttheritiee
R
.37' ,,.e"Pj.x'»J%«
xégiwl $'Ef':, (M
ifiwmwvwmvmmmrmm
5
under this Act or any rule made th€I°€U.I1C1€1_'-2&8 may
be Considered necessary: ' *
Provided that the Government may, i§""ii.o'Veoiié3i_€lers
necessary so to do, in the public interest. general
or special order, exempt. any class; of..p.e_i'e.oiis"fr_om' 'the
payment of any such fee eiiT?2e':*»i.ri pert. ofiio fi.ill_.:'f
A perusal of Section 211 re\zea_l_:5; liigfion
Central government has beeIi'V'§:éi:.TiV*»clioVrise'cl~ the rules;
ii, Shall also have the on ilieleubjeete on
which it can frame 'il%ie_':natters on which
the State g'oxj.e«2*i:iii2.eni;A_ is; frame rules, the
State the authority to levy fee
on the vinl:¢ieti.ei';s:g oii*fiWliieli"--it eé{f1'if1'é:irne rules. Accordingly, it
will haiie to be __Whetl1er the iseue of grant and
renewal oi'li.ee:3eee_ féilileixfithin the rule making jurisdiction
'_ of Ceiitial VgAA{§"v'«€:f_IlI'gl€rlt, or that of the State government.
Foi*~ iii-e".ii:.s't"a:nt aspect, of the matter, reference has
made to Sections 2'? and 28 of ihe Motor
.V 'R/jy€£'3:'§"('::_§.€$"V;%§.C:V€,";' l988. Wliilst Section 2'? delirieaiee the power
the Ceiiiral government to make rules? Section 28 lays
Alli/he {':{}i1l,§E1§_§€3l'lClf:?Sl under which the State goverrloieiii:
" ''(:'e::i frame rulee. Seeiioiis 2?' and 28 a§£i)i'$fIl€I£li1¥{,i{:%il*f:'Cl ere
beiiig l"€':3I'{}{ill{E€/d [l}€E'{i'l,li"i€l€%I"I
vvmuwvrwonvumw
.,eM/éwfqi 3/Wk»
'NJ
6
"27. Power of the Centra} Government to make ruiesx
The Central Government make rules,-
{a} regarding conditions referred to in siih'~se'ciiVo1'1u(2}
of SSCUOII 3; i 5' '
($3) providing for the form in which ,f;}:Cv-£i}3Df§£é8tfiOf}.'fGf
iearnerie iieenee may be rnade; 'i;he i'nfo:rrn'a:_ion--.ii: snail f
contain and the docurnents: to;'oie.a'suIornit'ted VWiE}3;v--ih€ "
S"
..
.9 application referred to in sub*e__se5:iion (2) of.Sec--i:io.n 6
(c) providing for the"v-.iifeirrn of: . fffeeriifieate referred to in subsection "{3} Section 8; 3
(d) providing for pa'rii§:uiarsiVofoif_the test referred to in subsection (5) of_e_Sec-tiori 8; " .
(e) providing for the» forrn. in \§§*hici1iivi"' e application for driving 1_ir;e'ne_e nfiiayi be made the information it shaii contain i._an{;i'e»i'theV 4doeiiinents"'to"b'e submitted with the app1i§:ati"on"referredio.inésizbeection (2} of Section 9;
vvfoi',Vi--he 'particulars regarding test of cvompeten_ce.__te_ drivfii referred io in Subeection (3) of Section V ' "
(g) supecifying rninirnnrn educational qualifications ef pereoensii to '-whom iicences to drive transport »»'-?3v'eh'iciee issued under this Act and the time A " within which such qualifications are to be acquired by " '~ ._sn_ci<: peraoiis:
'=.7{h} for the form and coniienie of the licences refeificfefei to in subeeciion (1) of section i0: {i}.v__f'3providing for the form and eontenis of the V " éapfpiieaiion referred io in subsection (1) of Section ii and CiC>(E¥.}i"i1€f}tf53 to be snbrniited with iiifie appiieaiion and {he fee in be charged;
{ii prinziéiiiigj for the eéimiitione siibgeci in eziiich SE1*£;I'i§{}i} § shaii zzgspiy to an 2:"i,§I§1i€i.,",£:i'{i{)1'i made iinder Seeiiien ii:
ii imlfia; 54» M? W 'J a} {he 7 (K) providing for the form and contents of the application referred to in subsection (1) of Section 15 and the documenie to aeitornpany such _.a:p"p1_i::cition under siibeeciion (2) of Section 15; ' (E) providing for the authority to giant/""ii:cenicens Subsection (1) of Section _ (in) specifying the fees payiibie-AAi.n?:cieii*i.A{2)'"
of Section 8, sub section {2} of Section .9 «. a§i1_éi:..e'iib» sections (3) and (4) oi'-.._Secti'cif_1"i5 fo':"_*:}1e g;1:an't_ of learners licences, and'--vfo'i=.i»the ;:;i'a§I:i, '2iinicE fenewai of driving' licences and licences fo'1"._the purpose of regulating the sciioole oi*"'e:3_tab}'ies:.hInenfs for imparting instructions in <:ii'*~i\/fin,g'._rric:gi.of'wiehiclesg
(n) specifying the..ecf'SV.foi?Ai:he".«f;1iif§1{;e'es of clause (i) of sub~seciVi:»n_V (1-1) of See§iioi1<V '
(o) spee.ifyi;n'g__. the 'offenceev'a.fio1er this Act for the purposeefofetibgsejexiion {?,]"vofV.Section 24»;
(pfte "fOI""-QH 'oi"'any"of the matters referred to in sub~S'e<:ti.ori. ( i'}._oi7 vSe.ct.-Eon 26;
(q)ia';1'y Vothef' which is, or has to be, prescribed by the_4Cent1*a1 '€}o2{_e.:'nment.
13ov§ei":§.o_ii_§he State Governineni to make rules.» {1} VA.A44A'S:ate Government may make rules for the "pg,i:posie.i__oif carrying into effect the provisions of this 2 "--._ViChap_ter'~;;other than the matters specified in Section A 27, . ' ' (£2) Wivihout prejudice to the generality of the foregoing V' A. power, such rules may provide for.» appointment, jurisdiction, eontrol and fiineiions of licensing eiuihoriiies and oiher ereeeiiioesi aiiiiioriiiee;
{iii} iiie §)()i'Ei;'iLi{?§ eno h€%é1£'ii3§ oi' eipgzeeie ieiizsii may be pi"eiei"i*ed under iiiiéa Chepiei; {he feee to be gain in ffiiéépffiiifi, oi" :e;:,i:::iri zieeeaie zmsci iiie 1'£%f'{1i':{§ oi' Eiiiiih :;Tet§aett,g R t""ij"Q[ 8 Provided that no fee so fixed shell exceed twentyiive rupees;
{e} the issue of dupiieate Iieene/es to rep.Ei_a4ee:"1ieeh;;:e3 Eost, deetroyed or mutilated, the rep1aee.rTt;ent.._'ef photographs which have become 2thSe1u'tie'-aiieithe'---._ feee the be ehzarged therefor; _ {Ci} the badges and tzniferni-. to1'_'be'tv misfit' of 2 transport vehieies andthe fees tn be p9;i.diAii1"reepeet"ef badges: V Vv "
{e} the fee payable for theof fneV<§1Aiegt§1 Certificate under suh~sectic:_ri~~..(_3} {if S_eet.ien"8; (B the exemption of J_pf€:Sf;5fi'b€'<:.tiV}i1A¥3I'$L?{DS, or prescribed classes of person.;--frot11Vpajgrneiit 311 or any portion of the feee'«p2t§zah3e Linder.vt/h'is.Ch':§;pter;
(g) the Ceinn1u.niei5iti0n.. Cf ' péiftieulars of licences graiited §:ijg""0"i*1e zititherity to ether licensing auther'itie:~f:i:.;.,v "
(h) the eEt,2_--ties';.ifunetiens;and Conduct ef such persons tc:§'r_ When'; Vite:-eneeS"e.._»te__ drive transport Vehicles are iSS!A,i~'?d§. V V. {1} the héexeniptien {if drivers of i"0ad~--r011ers from all or ,.«{any of th€'=.pr0V'i'SiO)."1S of this Chapter or of the ruies " V ~ n11:tde"tt.hereunii'er;
in which the State Register of Driving .__VVLi{:ena;:es3:;'sha1i be maintained under Section 26;
(k};__v'g;n§?Aether matter which is to be, or may be? pres§::tribed,"
It is the selitaty vehernent ztententien et' the '' ~Ee-é;:'ned eetinsei fer the zippetieintiei that; the etthjeet matter {}f§§F&1i§§, anfi reriewrsn ef iiiiZe:'.EE{f€S tetée in Qfhgtettet it, i.et., the earne Chztptier tzna:ts;=::* wtiieh $::~::et.ien 31:»; itizéititieti 'under 9 the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. And as such, it is the State government alene, which eould jt1S'[ifiI:'ibl:{ the If aut,hQ1'ity to levy fee on the grantt ass well"A.:;{$,.':*efieW:ile t};.__V licences.
5. We have given :§1.;f~..tho1i'g'ht:"t;:l '{E.QIl;'S:lCl€f2iiiOIl 'ta the sole Contention adyaneedV_b§f"*tlf1e..lea1'lied.,eoghsel for the appellants, ' '
5. A Section 28 of the Motor for doubt that the State goxzefflttrietliifa to 'make rules on all 'uhder Chapter ll of the Motor Vehicles however one exeeptien to the aforeeaiti. profitrsjtion v3:;:.t unless the issue in question is :.§er:t1t1der Seetien 2? of the Meta: Vehicles Act, lt :l'l'e.v.__th;e%efL)re appznent, that unless the power to frarfie for grant or renewal «at driving lieenees is H .,pre\«fii'<:le5 tor uncsler Seetien 12?, the same Weultl vest in the _' Ste§:e'lgevernmentl €213, Seetierte 8t 9 and l5, mestl Cl€flI}§i€l§;' in Ch21pt:er ll (3? the Evletew Vehieles; Ac:t;, EQSS, relate it:
ezattere §€*§"'£1&'ziIE the the gyrsszzt zthtl re:eewal 0:' ll{3€!'§{3€S}. Pm 'El "?
':~::§M@%;fl{\"f'/ll/'§w«'§':l« 10
17. T he issue, whether or not, the exeeptimiTfeferred to in sub»-section (1) of Section 28 will apply <:ent1*ever3y. will be based on whether Seetlen §m:des«._ for gram: anel renewal of drivingf'lieefieee, ~iF'e:f_.' t§1eV'i'rie{V.é:<nt purpose learned eeunsel fQr_resjeel"l€:£enf invited our zmientierx to V. S of tlie Motor Vehicles E988; VT"wl'j:iel'1ll""'elearly and unambiguously providee and renewal of clrivmg lieenees;:.:€"'3_ end unambiguous position. but to conclude, that the peWelr'lvf,,4??.'§:;'raf1I§i and rerlewzlxiving licences is Vested in the Cexgiral _ geztergjmexzt. . _ Fi9_Vir:g'~re'eefded the aforesaid conclusion, in ezf-thenma:lds'i'i:e'e0r:taineel in Section 2ll of the Motor \x*ellliele'e{1Xe:';. :l'£3_88, it is the Central gevernment alone, that hes "the pO';§?:$F::t.O levy fee on the issue of grant anti renewal luef liee.r1leee..vl Thus viewed, Rule 23l»E ef the Karnatalie l:Vl.l'J{oeé:e_r Vlfehielee Rules, i989 framed by the State .' gz:'e?efl:::1e:1te itlearljs béjfilflfl the »;urie<:li<:7:t§er: E3'; the V' '7§%:e{ee% g<>vemmen:5, anal élzerefere wee rig'l:f,i'ell§; ee: aside the lf;'8;l"l"?1{%{§; S3:§I,§;§§3? Judge, 11
9. Farr the reasons recorded h€Y€H18.bOV€, W6 find no merit in the instant Wm; appsal and the éiaxns is ae::c0rdi11g1y Ciismissed.
bkv __ Index: yes/no _