1. OVERVIEW
By the order dated 3rd February, 2017 passed in the Writ Petition (stamp) No. 31669 of 2016, this Court directed that this group of Petitions shall be disposed of finally at the stage of admission. The learned AGP appearing for the State has relied upon the affidavit - in - reply of Purushottam Nikam, Deputy Transport Commissioner (Enf.1) filed in Writ Petition No. 12766 of 2016 by stating that it is a common affidavit filed dealing with all the Petitions.

2. On 23rd October, 2015 (Home) Transport Department of the State Government addressed a letter to the Commissioner of Transport of the State Government. The said communication records that there are several Contract Carriage Permits under S.74 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (for short "the said Act") issued in respect of auto rikshaws, which have lapsed for various reasons. A direction was issued to the Commissioner of Transport to grant the lapsed Contract Carriage Permits in respect of auto rikshaws by adopting a lottery system. Condition No.3 in the said communication was that an Applicant who applies for Permit should have a knowledge of the local language and should be aware of the topography of the area for whic