Bus owners charged with contempt of Court
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 11 2013:
Pallel Tata Winger Owners' and Drivers' Association and Advocate Kh Tarunkumar have stated that they have filed a criminal contempt of Court case against Indo-Burma Sugnu Road Bus Owners' Welfare Union for allegedly disregarding and not complying with a judgement of the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench.
Speaking to media persons at his Jail Road chamber, Advocate Tarunkumar said that they (Indo-Burma Sugnu Road Bus Owners' Association) can go to Courts if they are not happy with the ruling passed Justice TNK Singh of Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench on March 13 .
Transport Directorate gave temporary permits to five Tata Wingers to operate on Imphal-Pallel route as passenger carriers from September 14, 2010 to September 30, 2010 .
However, the permits were cancelled on September 21, 2010 in the face of strong protest agitation undertaken by Indo-Burma Sugnu Road Bus Owners' Welfare Union.
The Pallel Tata Winger Owners' and Drivers' Association reacted by a filing a petition against the State Government and the Indo-Burma Sugnu Road Bus Owners' Welfare Union at Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench on September 14, 2011 .
In response, Indo-Burma Sugnu Road Bus Owners' Welfare Union filed three affidavits.
The final hearing of the case was done on January 28 this year in the presence of Counsels appearing for respondents as well as petitioners.
According to the judgement and order passed by Justice TNK Singh on February 13 this year, putting contract courier permit in comatose state is against the law.
The Court also ruled that the respondents have no monopoly right for operating public carriers on the particular route.
In this light, the Court instructed that the State Government should consider the matter within a month.
A Supreme Court ruling of 1992 (Volume I, Case page 168), stated that there should be as many transport service as possible on all routes and there should be conducive atmosphere for healthy competition among transport service operators.
According to this Supreme Court judgement, Article 19(1)(G) of the Indian Constitution and the Motor Vehicle Act 1988, vehicle owners have no monopoly right on any route.
Stating that the High Court has already asked the State Government to consider the issue within a month, Advocate Tarunkumar said that it would be illegal if the Indo-Burma Sugnu Road Bus Owners' Welfare Union launches strike or agitation.
If the union launches any strike or agitation within this period, a case of contempt of court would be filed against the union, he warned.
Taking part in the press meet, secretary of the Pallel Tata Winger Owners' and Drivers' Welfare Association Vivekananda said that presently only two buses are plying between Imphal and Pallel.
These two buses are quite insufficient for the large number of people travelling on the route and they have been facing severe difficulties.
It was with a view to ameliorate the difficulties faced by public that the association demanded permits for operating Tata Wingers along the route, he added.
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