IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.31475 of 2025 Reetuparna Tripathy …. Petitioner(s)

Represented By Adv.

Mr. Hrudananda Mohapatra -versus-

State of Odisha & Ors. …. Opposite Party(s)

Represented By ASC Mr. Sonak Mishra Mr. Pravakar Behera, SC CORAM:

DR. JUSTICE SANJEEB K PANIGRAHI

ORDER

Order 16.12.2025 No.

03. 1. This matter is taken up through hybrid arrangement.

2. The Petitioner has filed this Writ Petition challenging the order dated 28.11.2024 passed by the Regional Transport Officer, Puri vide letter No.3730/RTA under Annexure-9.

3. Heard.

4. Learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that 11 numbers of BPTSL buses were allowed to ply in different routes of Puri town with permanent permits issued by the Regional Transport Authority, Puri in the year 2014.

The BPTSL buses were plying over the said routes for six months and thereafter the plying of those buses were stopped and the permit which were issued to 11 numbers of BPTSL buses were not issued to anybody else. The said permits issued against BPTSL buses were expired on 21.04.2019. Some of the five bus owners plied their vehicle since March, 2019 and thereafter they did not ply the same. Accordingly, the Regional Transport Authority, Puri did not allow them further to ply their vehicles. The said permits issued to BPTSL buses became dead in condition. The Petitioner came to know about the said permit and has purchased a 25 seated new bus by availing a loan of Rs.25,00,000/- form State Bank of India, Badasankha Branch, Puri and registered the said vehicle before the R.T.O., Puri. Thereafter, the Petitioner had applied before the Regional Transport Authority, Puri on 14.02.2023 for issuance of permit. The application of the Petitioner was duly received by the R.T.O., Puri and considering the fact that the permit can be granted in favour of the Petitioner, his application was recommended to the Chairman, R.T.A.-cum-Collector, Puri for approval. But, the Chairman, R.T.A.-cum- Collector, Puri without considering the plight of the Petitioner and also his condition of purchasing the new vehicle to ply over the route stated above for his sustenance, rejected the said application and communicated the same to the Petitioner vide letter no.1553 dated 31.03.2023.

5. He further submits that the grievance of the Petitioner is that the learned Collector-cum-Chairman, RTA, Puri without considering the aforesaid facts stated above, has rejected the application of the Petitioner vide letter no.3730 dated 28.11.2024. Hence, the Petitioner has approached this Court for seeking consideration of his application which has been rejected wrongly.

6. Learned counsel for the Transport Department submits that as per Section 89(A), the Petitioner should have filed an appeal against the said cancellation of the temporary permit. But, the Petitioner has not approached the appellate authority instead he has approached this Court after delay of about one year. In order to obviate the delay, he has approached this Court instead approaching the appellate authority.

7. Without going into the merits of the case, let the Petitioner approach the Regional Transport Authority, Puri afresh along with all the relevant documents by filing an application within a period of two weeks from today. The said authority shall consider the application of the Petitioner along with other application of the applicants after completion of the rationalization process. The said authority shall take steps to dispose of the application of the present Petitioner and other application of the applicants at the earliest possible preferably within a period of one month from the date of filing of the application by the Petitioner.

8. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of.

(Dr. Sanjeeb K Panigrahi)

Judge Sumitra Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed Signed by: SUMITRA NAYAK Designation: JUNIOR STENOGRAPHER Reason: Authentication Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack Date: 18-Dec-2025 19:00:33