J.K. Biswas, J. - (1.) The petitioners in this Article 226 petition dated March 24, 2009 are seeking a mandamus commanding the State Transport Authority, West Bengal to grant them a permanent stage carriage permit for the route Bagmundi - Kolkata.
(2.) The petitioners submitted the requisite application, Annexure P1 at p.43. Alleging that their application was not considered by the transport authority, they moved WP No. 2184 of 2003 under Article 226. The petition was disposed of by an order dated November 18, 2003 directing the transport authority to dispose of the application.
(3.) By a decision dated December 30, 2003, Annexure P5 at p. 50, the transport authority rejected the application for the following reasons: Considering inadequate space in the existing bus stand for halting more buses, the magnitude of air/vehicular pollution, traffic congestion and insufficient road space to bear further traffic load in Kolkata and Howrah, State Transport Authority, West Bengal, therefore, resolved to reject the prayer of the applicant for grant of permit on the route Bagmundi to Kolkata on the ground that the further entry of stage carriage service in Kolkata/Howrah will aggravate the present traffic congestion and vehicular pollution and disrupt the smooth traffic flow of Kolkata.;