- (1.) The petitioners in these two writ petitions having voiced a common grievance, the same have been heard together and shall stand disposed of by this common order.
(2.) Subject matter of challenge in these two writ petitions is a notice dated October 8, 2012 issued by the Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Malda (hereafter the RTA) inviting applications from prospective operators for grant of stage carriage permits in respect of different intra - district routes. The only ground on which the notice has been challenged is that although the Secretary has observed therein that it is the RTA that has decided to issue stage carriage permits on the routes detailed in Annexure A thereto, no such decision has been taken by the RTA and that the Secretary, RTA without any authorization from the RTA has proceeded to issue such notice. W.P. 24377(W) of 2012 is at the instance of a permit holder on the route Malda to Nalagola via Bulbulchandi. It was entertained by a learned Judge of this Court on 08.11.2012. While calling for affidavits, His Lordship directed "status quo in respect of the route in question be maintained till 6 weeks after reopening of the Court after Puja vacation with liberty to the petitioner to pray for extension of period of status quo with notice to the respondents".
(3.) Since affidavit -in -opposition had not been filed by the respondents, another learned Judge of this Court by an order dated 19.12.2012 extended the interim order until further orders and also extended the time to file affidavit - in -opposition.;