ORDER:- The subject-matter of this writ petition is a long drawn affair but concerns a very simple matter in the matter of the grant of an extension of a route permit, which is inter-State in character.

2. The petitioner is a motor vehicle operator having a permit in the Kerala State to operate between Tiruchur and Velanthavalam. It applied to the primary Authority in the State of Kerala for extension of this route beyond Velanthavalam to Coimbatore, inside the State of Madras. The primary authority after following the usual procedure granted the extension in the first instance. I may at once state that the first respondent here, also a bus operator, opposed such a grant before the appropriate transport authorities in the State of Kerala as well as in the High Court of Kerala. The first respondent was unsuccessful. Thereafter, as is required under Section 63(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act. which obliges such a permit holder to obtain the counter signature of the Regional Transport Authority, within the State of Madras, the petitioner approached the said authority for the necessary endorsement. On 20-1-1968, the Regional Transport Authority, Coimbatore, granted the counter sig