ORDER :

1. The petitioners seek a writ of mandamus:

(a) declaring the action of respondents in seizing the seven public carriage vehicles of the petitioners and detaining without releasing them within three days in terms of Rule 448-B of the A.P. MV Rules as illegal, arbitrary and against the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (for short ‘the MV Act’) and the Andhra Pradesh Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 (for short ‘the A.P. MV Rules’).

(b) to direct the respondents not to resort to seize the vehicles of the petitioners, plying on the interstate routes henceforth, unless grave irregularities exists in terms of Sections 3, 4, 39 and 66 of the MV Act.

(c) declaring that the petitioners are entitled for the damages for the loss of business and reputation as determined by this Court and direct the respondents to pay the said amount.

(d) to direct the respondents to refund the tax paid for the seized vehicles from the date of seizure till release of the vehicles.

2. The petitioners’ case is that their family has been carrying on business in transport since several decades and as of now