RAJAMANNAR, C. J. :- This is an appeal against the judgment of Rajagopala Aiyangar, J., in W. P. No. 1 of 1956, and relates to the grant of a stage carriage permit for a bus to ply on the route Kollegal to Saggiam in Coimbatore District. Several transport operators made applications for the grant of this permit, among whom it is sufficient to mention the appellant S. Venkatachalam Aiyar, proprietor, Janaki Motor Service, Satyamangalam and P. N. Ramaswami Gounder, Proprietor, Sri Ram Transports, Satyamangalam, hereinafter referred to as the respondent.

The Regional Transport Authority, Coimbatore on a consideration of the several applications to them, granted a permit to the appellant before us by their order dated 27th June 1955. The material portion of this order relating to the relative merits of the appellant and the respondent is as follows :

"Applicant No. 8 (respondent) has not direct interest in this line and his headquarters is at a distance of 69 miles from Kollegal. His application is rejected. The Board is therefore compelled to consider the case of applicant No. 6 (appellant) who has four permits but has obtained the orders of the Government dated 14-6-1955 to tr