THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 30.07.2026, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

J U D G M E N T

The petitioner is the owner of a fleet of goods carriage vehicles. According to the petitioner, since the employees of the petitioner are covered by the provisions of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 and the Schemes framed thereunder, the petitioner is not legally required to make any contribution to the Kerala Motor Transport Workers Welfare Fund Board as welfare fund contributions. According to the petitioner, they have uploaded all necessary documents for the purposes of enabling the 3 rd respondent to issue exemption certificates. It is stated that the petitioner will be permitted to pay road tax on the vehicles only after producing the exemption certificates. It is submitted that the road tax is payable by 31-07-2026.

The learned Standing Counsel appearing for respondents 2 and 3 would submit that the application for exemption certificate will be processed, if all the documents have been uploaded by the petitioner.

Heard the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for respondents 1, 4 and 5 and the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the 6 th respondent also.

Having heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, learned Special Government Pleader for official respondents and the learned Standing Counsel for respondents 2, 3 and 6, I am of the opinion that this writ petition can be disposed of directing the 3 rd respondent to consider the claim of the petitioner for exemption certificates, in accordance with the law and to pass necessary orders (provided all the necessary documents and applications have been submitted by the petitioner ) within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment.

Taking into consideration the averments in the writ petition that all the employees of the petitioner are covered under the Employees Provident Fund Scheme, there will be a further order directing that the petitioner shall be permitted to provisionally remit Motor Vehicles Tax for the twenty six vehicles covered by the registration certificates produced as Exts.P31 to P56. The petitioner shall pay the road tax on the vehicles covered by registration certificates produced as Ext.P31 to P56 on or before 31-07-2026, failing which they will not be entitled the benefits of this judgment.

Writ petition is ordered accordingly.