JUDGMENT

GOSWAMI, J.:—The appellant and the respondents 3 and 4 were the former existing stage-carriage operators of Jaipur-Sainthal route which was nationalised on January 25, 1973. All of them applied for the grant of non-temporary stage carriage permits of Jaipur-Padampura route as alternative route permits. The Regional Transport Authority, Jaipur (briefly the RTA) by its order of July 22, 1974, granted non-temporary permits to the appellant and respondent No. 4 and rejected the application of respondent No. 3. That led to an appeal to the State Transport Appellate Tribunal at Jaipur, Rajasthan, by respondent No. 3. The notice of appeal was served upon the appellant but since he did not appear the appeal was heard ex parte and by its order dated December 17, 1974, the State Transport Appellate Tribunal set aside the order of the RTA and granted the permit in favour of respondent No. 3. The appellant filed a writ application under Article 226 of the Constitution before the Rajasthan High Court and the learned single Judge by a rather long speaking order dismissed the same summarily. A further appeal by the appellant to the Division Bench met with the same fate. The High Court al