Judgment

RAY, J.; - This is an appeal by special leave from the judgment dated 20 November, 1970 of the Bombay High Court directing the Regional Transport Authority to dispose of the applications for stage carriage permits, pending before it without any further delay and without any further adjournment at the instance of any party whatsoever.

2. The principal questions for consideration in this appeal are; first, whether the Regional Transport Authority has power to call for further or additional information from the applicants for the grant of permit at the time of consideration of the applications for the grant of permits under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 hereinafter referred to as the Act and secondly whether the Regional Transport Authority will consider the qualifications of the applicants as on the date of the consideration of the applications for grant of permits.

3. The respondents are private operators. They held substantive permits on various routes. They applied for renewal of permits which were to expire on different dates between 28 February, 1966 and 30 September,1966. The appellant applied for grant of substantive permits in lieu of the renewal applications made by the