Madras High Court
A.Senthil Maharaj vs The Regional Transport Authority on 18 June, 2025
WP NO. 16834 of 2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 18.06.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MRS JUSTICE N. MALA
WP NO. 16834 of 2025
A.Senthil Maharaj ...Petitioner
Vs.
1.The Regional Transport Authority,
Coimbatore Zone,
Coimbatore
2.The Regional Transport Office,
Mettupalayam,
Coimbatore District.
..Respondents
Prayer : Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for
issuance of writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to initiate legal Action
against SNR Bus No.TN 40 L 0760 operating from Kempanaickenpalayam to
Coimbatore and SNR Bus No.TN 40 H 6377 operating from Puliyampatty to
Coimbatore for illegally terminating and using Gandhipuram Bus Stand instead
of new Bus Stand at Mettupalayam Road, Coimbatore by considering the
petitioner's representation dated 31.03.2025 and for consequential orders within
a period stipulated by this Court.
For Petitioner: Mr.R.Jayaprakash
For Respondents: Mr.V.Manoharan
Additional Government Pleader
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WP NO. 16834 of 2025
ORDER
This petition has been filed to direct the respondents to initiate legal Action against SNR Bus No.TN 40 L 0760 operating from Kempanaickenpalayam to Coimbatore and SNR Bus No.TN 40 H 6377 operating from Puliyampatty to Coimbatore, for illegally terminating and using Gandhipuram Bus Stand, instead of new Bus Stand at Mettupalayam Road, Coimbatore, by considering the petitioner's representation dated 31.03.2025 and for consequential orders within a period stipulated by this Court.
2. The petitioner is a resident of Coimbatore District. To reduce traffic congestion inside Coimbatore City and Gandipuram Bus stand, a new bus stand was opened opposite to the Head office of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, at Coimbatore Mettupalayam Road. The petitioner states that the mofusil buses plying via Palladam, Sulur and Ondipudur which were reaching Gandhipuram Central bus stand were directed to use Singanallur new bus stand. The operators of the bus therefore filed a writ petition in W.P.No.24032 of 2002 etc., batch and the same was dismissed by this Court. Aggrieved by the same, the operators filed W.A.No.2162 of 2002 etc., batch. During the pendency of the writ appeal, the Regional Transport Officer, Coimbatore South, filed a Supplementary affidavit stating that in view of the representation of short distance commuters and the difficulty faced by them in changing over 2/11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 15/07/2025 04:11:05 pm ) WP NO. 16834 of 2025 buses to reach Gandhipuram, it was decided to permit short distance buses, i.e., buses coming to Coimbatore originating from points within 55 kms of the city to terminate at Gandhipuram bus stand, after stopping in Singanallur bus stand. However, all the buses plying via Trichy road and coming to Coimbatore from beyond the distance of 55 kms including Madurai, Trichy, Karur etc., would terminate at Singanallur. In terms of the supplementary affidavit of the RTO, the Hon'ble Division Bench in W.A.No.2161 of 2002 etc., batch, permitted only buses plying to distance of 55 km from Coimbatore to use Gandhipuram Bus Stand.
3. The petitioner submitted that the aforesaid order of the Division Bench was followed by this Court in W.P.Nos.14506 to 14509 of 2010 etc., batch, in which, the petitioner was also a party viz., W.P.No.14875 of 2010. The petitioner submitted that in W.P.Nos.14506 to 14509 batch by its order dated 24.02.2012, similar concession was extended to all the buses using the New Bus Stand in the Mettupalayam Road and plying to a distance of 55 km only, by permitting them to terminate at the Gandhipuram Bus Stand after stopping at New Bus Stand in Mettupalayam road. However, the subject buses (i.e.,) SNR Bus No.TN 40 L 0760 operating from Kenpanaickenpalayam to Coimbatore, covering a distance of 102 km, and SNR Bus No.TN 40 H 6377 operating from Puliyampatty to Coimbatore, covering a distance of 69.6 Kms, 3/11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 15/07/2025 04:11:05 pm ) WP NO. 16834 of 2025 in violation of the above orders were also using the Gandhipuram Bus Stand. Therefore, the petitioner submitted a representation to the 2nd respondent on 31.03.2025, for appropriate action and to ensure that the said buses terminated at New Bus Stand in the Mettupalayam Road. As no action was taken by the respondents on the petitioner's representation, the petitioner filed the above writ petition.
4. Learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents submitted that there was no order or instructions for the subject buses, to terminate at New Bus Stand, in the Mettupalayam Road. Hence, he prayed for dismissal of the writ petition.
5. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.
6. It is seen that the Hon'ble Division Bench in W.A.No.2161 of 2002 etc., batch, while recording the supplementary affidavit of the RTO, held as follows:
"....3. When the matter is pending before this Court, the Regional Transport Officer, Coimbatore South, has filed a supplementary affidavit. In that, after referring to the earlier affidavit filed by it, the deponent averred that after considering the representation of the short distance commuters expressing their difficulty of change over of buses to reach Gandhipuram, the 4/11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 15/07/2025 04:11:05 pm ) WP NO. 16834 of 2025 respondents felt that the objections of the construction of Singanallur bus stand is to reduce congestion in Gandhipuram bus stand and inside Coimbatore city and was decided that the authorities could consider permitting only the very short distance buses, i.e., buses coming from Coimbatore originating from points within 55 kms of the city to terminate at Gandhipuram bus stand after stopping in Singanallur bus stand. However, all the buses plying via Trichy road and coming to Coimbatore from beyond the distance of 55 kms including Madurai, Trichy, Karur, etc., will terminate at Singanallur while the buses plying from the very short distances, i.e., within 55 kms, via Ayyankoil, Sulur, Palladam, Tiruppur can be considered terminating at Gandhipuram bus stand after entering into Singanallur bus stand. This arrangement would be a good trade off between public convenience and reducing congestion in Gandhipuram bus stand and the city.
4. When the matter is taken up, learned counsel for the appellants submitted that the distance of the route which is the subject matter of writ appeals covers only less than 55 kms and as such, the appellants cannot have any grievance and suffice it to pass an order in terms of the supplementary affidavit.
5. Learned counsel for the respondents submitted that as all the appellants are plying their buses only in the route which covers only a distance less than 55 kms, the reasoning stated in the supplementary affidavit would virtually answer the relief sought for by the appellants.5/11
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6. We heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record, particularly the supplementary affidavit sworn in by the Regional Transport Authority, Coimbatore South.
7. It is also admitted across the bar that all these buses plying in the bus route reaching Gandhipuram bus stand are covering only a distance of less than 55 kms to reach Gandhipuram bus stand. The relief sought for by the appellants had been granted by the respondents themselves. Therefore, recording the above stand taken in paragraph 2 of the supplementary affidavit of the Regional Transport Authority, these writ appeals are disposed of in terms of the supplementary affidavit. No costs. The connected miscellaneous petitions are closed."
7. Following the aforesaid decision, this Court in W.P.Nos. 14506 of 2010 etc., batch, held as follows:
"....13. The learned Counsel appearing for some of the petitioners and the other learned counsels appearing for the other petitioners have submitted that similar benefit could be conferred on the petitioners also, since the distance between the Central bus stand - Gandhipuram - Mettupalayam. is only 37 kms. It has been further contended that when such concession has been shown to the other bus operators who are operating within 55 kms of the Coimbatore city and when they were permitted to terminate their service at Gandhipuram bus stand after stopping in Singanallur bus, stand, the petitioners who are the similarly placed persons could also be shown the same, 6/11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 15/07/2025 04:11:05 pm ) WP NO. 16834 of 2025 concessions.
14. I am in entire agreement with the contentions made therein. Even the Singanallur bus stand was constructed only in order to ease out the traffic congestion and accidents in the Gandhipuram areas and bus stand. When the vehicles operating from Tiruppur, Avinashi and Ayyankoll side were permitted to terminate at Gandhipuram after stopping at Singanallur bus stand for picking up and setting down the passengers in all their singles without omission, it is not known why such concession has not been shown to the petitioners, especially in the given case on hand, the distance between the new bus stand and the Gandhipuram bus stand is only about 31:8kms and hence there cannot be any impediment to permit the petitioner to terminate at Gandhipuran bus stand after stopping at new bus stand in Mettupalayan road.
15.The other contention raised on behalf of the respondents is that in the event of the petitioners being permitted to use the Gandhipuram bus stand, the purpose and object for which the new bus stand has been established at Mettupalayam road would be lost. I am unable to agree within the said submission made on behalf of the respondents. The reason being that the passengers who are dropped at new bus stand at Mettupalayam road again have to take town bus or other modes, of transport to reach Coimbatore city and it will also definitely add up to the 7/11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 15/07/2025 04:11:05 pm ) WP NO. 16834 of 2025 traffic congestion in the Coimbatore city. Therefore, the above said contention raised on behalf of the respondents have to be rejected in toto.
16. In view of the above stated position, I am of the considered view that, the impugned orders of the first respondent dated 15.06.2010, 28.07.2010 and 03:08.2010 are liable to be set aside and accordingly set aside and these writ petitions stands allowed. The petitioners are directed to use the new bus stand at Mettupalayam Road As well as Gandhipuram bus stand at Coimbatore City and while operating from Mertupalayam to Coimbatore City or from Combatore City to Mettupalayam and beyond, the buses shall stop at the new bus stand at Mettupalayam Road so as to enable the passengers to board and deboard the buses. It is needless to say that the petitioners shall pay the, necessary leving/charges to the concerned authorities for the uses of both the bus stands. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. However, no order as to costs."
8. From a reading of the above orders of this Court, it is clear that the buses plying to a distance of 55 kms, were alone permitted to terminate at Gandipuram Bus stand, after stopping at new bus stand at Mettupalayam Road, and at new Bus Stand at Singanallur depending on from which side they entered Coimbatore City. However, buses plying beyond 55 kms, could not 8/11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 15/07/2025 04:11:05 pm ) WP NO. 16834 of 2025 terminate at Gandhipuram Bus stand but would have to terminate at Singanallur bus stand and Mettupalayam new bus stand.
9. The petitioner's submitted that the representation dated 31.03.2025, complaining of violation of the aforesaid orders of this Court by the Special buses viz., SNR Bus No.TN 40 L 0760 and SNR Bus No.TN 40 H 6377. As the respondents have not passed any orders on the petitioner's representation, I am inclined to direct the respondents to consider the petitioner's representation dated 31.03.2025, in the light of the orders passed in W.A.No.2161 of 2002 etc., batch and W.P.Nos. 14506 of 2010 etc., batch, within a period of four(4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It is needless to say that, before considering the representation of the petitioner, an opportunity of hearing shall be given both to the petitioner as well as to the operators of the said special buses. No costs.
18.06.2025 Index :Yes/No Internet :Yes/No msv To 9/11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 15/07/2025 04:11:05 pm ) WP NO. 16834 of 2025
1.The Regional Transport Authority, Coimbatore Zone, Coimbatore
2.The Regional Transport Office, Mettupalayam, Coimbatore District.
10/11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 15/07/2025 04:11:05 pm ) WP NO. 16834 of 2025 N. MALA, J.
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