Kerala High Court
Shanavas S vs The Transport Commissioner on 25 March, 2026
Author: Murali Purushothaman
Bench: Murali Purushothaman
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN
WEDNESDAY, THE 25TH DAY OF MARCH 2026 / 4TH CHAITHRA, 1948
WP(C) NO. 48325 OF 2025
PETITIONER:
SHANAVAS S,
AGED 46 YEARS, SECRETARY, ALL KERALA TAXI AUTO
DRIVERS ASSOCIATION, AGED 46 YEARS, S/O LATE
SHAMSUDHEEN, BLOCK NO. 96, KOLLAYIL P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 691541
BY ADVS.
SHRI.NOBLE MATHEW
SMT.KUMARI SANGEETHA S.NAIR
SMT.DEEPA NOBLE
RESPONDENTS:
1 THE TRANSPORT COMMISSIONER,
TRANS TOWERS, VAZHUTHACAUD,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695014
2 STATE TRANSPORT AUTHORITY,
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, TRANS TOWER,
VAZHUTHACAUD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695014
3 STATE OF KERALA,
REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT
SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001
ADDL.R4 ANI TECHNOLOGIES PVT. LTD (OPERATES OLA CABS)/ OLA
ELECTRIC MOBILITY, REGENT INSIGNIA, #414, 3RD FLOOR,
4TH BLOCK, 17TH MAIN, 100 FEET ROAD, KORAMANGALA,
BANGALORE, KARNATAKA - 560034
ADDL.R5 UBER INDIA SYSTEMS PVT LTD,
REGUS BUSINESS PLATINUM CENTRE PVT. LTD., LEVEL 13
PLATINUM TECHNO PARK, PLOT NO. 17/18, SEC-30A,
VASHI, NAVI MUMBAI, THANE, MAHARASHTRA - 400705
(ADDL. R4 AND R5 IMPLEADED AS PER THE ORDER DATED
22/01/2026 IN IA 1/2026.)
2026:KER:26348
WP(C) NO. 48325 OF 2025
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BY ADV SRI.THOMAS P.KURUVILLA
SRI.P.S. APPU GP
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION
ON 25.03.2026, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE
FOLLOWING:
2026:KER:26348
WP(C) NO. 48325 OF 2025
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JUDGMENT
The petitioner is a taxi driver and the Secretary of all Kerala Taxi Auto Drivers Association. The grievance of the petitioner is that certain online taxi companies are operating service within the State of Kerala without requisite license from the 2nd respondent and detrimentally affecting the livelihoods of the members of the association. The petitioner has preferred Ext.P4 representation before respondents 1 to 3 in this regard. The limited prayer of the petitioner at this stage is for a direction to the 2nd respondent to consider Ext. P4.
2. Heard Sri. Noble Mathew, the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Government Pleader for respondents 1 to 3 and Sri. Thomas P Kuruvilla, the learned counsel for the additional 4th respondent.
In the facts and circumstances of the case and having regard to the submissions made across the Bar, there will be a direction to the 2nd respondent to consider Ext.P4 representation, in accordance with law, after hearing the 2026:KER:26348 WP(C) NO. 48325 OF 2025 ..4..
petitioner and the additional respondents and any other interested/affected parties, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment.
It is made clear that this Court has not made any observation on the merits of the writ petition or Ext.P4 representation.
The writ petition is disposed of.
Sd/-
MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN JUDGE YKB 2026:KER:26348 WP(C) NO. 48325 OF 2025 ..5..
APPENDIX OF WP(C) NO. 48325 OF 2025 PETITIONER EXHIBITS Exhibit P-1 TRUE COPY OF THE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE DATED 12.11.2025 Exhibit P-2 TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION FILED BY SRI. BAHULEYAN. A.P BEFORE THE RESPONDENTS UNDER THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT DATED 15.11.2025 Exhibit P-3 TRUE COPY OF THE ANSWER RECEIVED BY SRI.
BAHULEYAN. A.P., AIKKARASSERY HOUSE, ERUNNILLAMKODU. P.O., MULLOOR KARA, THRISSUR - 680583 UNDER THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT DATED 24.6.2025 Exhibit P-4 TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION FILED BY THE PETITIONERS BEFORE THE RESPONDENTS 1 TO 3 DATED 07.01.2026