Judgement

K. RAMASWAMY, J.:- Common questions of law have arisen in all these cases. The facts in Gajraj Singhs case are sufficient for disposal of all these cases. Though notices were served on respondents. Shri Goel appeared for the State on respondents, Shri Goel appeared for the State and Shri Promod Swarup for the UPSRTU, none is appearing in other cases.

2. In 1988, the appellant was granted a stage carriage permit on the Meerut-Baraut route under Section 47(3) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 (4 of 1939) (for short, the Repealed Act) for a period of 3 years. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988) (for short, the Act) came into force w.e.f. July 1, 1989. The said permit was renewed under Section 81 of the Act in 1991 for a further period of 5 years and the second renewal was granted in 1995. Respondents 3 to 17 had applied under Section 70 for grant of stage carriage permits under Section 72 on the Meerut-Gangoh route which intersects part of the route on which the appellant was operating his stage carriage. Depsite objections raised by the appellant, the State Transport Authority (for short, STA) granted permits to them November 23, 1992 which came to be challenged by the ap