M/s Sharma Transports
Vs. The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
M/s Sangita Travel
Agency & Ors. Vs. The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
M/s N.T. Zameer
Ahamed Khan Associates, Bangalore Vs. The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
K. Srinivas Vs. The
State of Maharashtra & Ors.
Southern Carriers,
Bangalore Vs. The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
M/s. N.T. Zameer
Ahamed Khan Associates, Bangalore & Anr. Vs. The State of Maharashtra &
Ors.
Ishwar Lal Sharma Vs.
State of Maharashtra & Ors.
VRL Logistics Limited
Vs. State of Maharashtra & Ors.
Anand, Managing
Director VRL Logistics Ltd. Vs. State of Karnataka & Ors.
J U D G M E N T
H.L. Dattu, J.
1.
These
appeals and writ petitions are directed against the order of the High Court of
Judicature at Bombay in Writ Petition No.3 of 1996 dated 21.07.2006, whereby the
High Court has held that transporters (writ petitioners before the High Court) could
only provide luggage space at the rear or the sides of a tourist vehicle as mandated
by Rule 128(9) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 [hereinafter referred to
as "the Rules"], and no luggage could be carried on the roof of the
vehicle. The prayer in the writ petitions is to direct the respondents therein not
to check, levy and collect the compounding fee from the vehicles of the
petitioners.
2.
The
transport operators [hereinafter referred to as the "transporters"]
are in appeal by special leave before us, claiming that they have the right to
carry luggage of the passengers on the roof of their vehicles. In all, there
are six appeals and three writ petitions before us, but for the sake of
convenience, we will refer to the factual scenario in C.A. No. 1507 of 2007, as
the same dicta will also be applicable to the rest of the matters.
3.
The
transporters operate tourist vehicles between the States of Karnataka and
Maharashtra and have been granted tourist permits by the State Transport
Authority of Karnataka under Section 88 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
[hereinafter referred to as "the Act"]. The respondents, by their communication/circular
dated 15.12.1995 had issued instructions to all the subordinate authorities
under the Act to ensure that there was no luggage carried on the roof of the
vehicles, as the same was not permissible under law. Due to this instruction, the
checking authorities had started imposing and collecting fines to the tune of `1500/-
for each entry and exit from the transporters for carrying goods on the roof of
vehicles with tourist permits.
4.
Aggrieved
by this imposition and collection of fine, the transporters preferred a writ
petition before the Bombay High Court inter-alia seeking the following
relief/(s):
i.
Writ
of Mandamus or any other appropriate Writ, Order or Direction and prohibit the
3rd and 4th Respondents and their sub-ordinate checking officers from checking,
levying and collecting the compounding fee from the vehicles of the Petitioners
on the alleged offence of carriage of goods on the top of the vehicle.
ii.
A
Writ in the nature of Certiorari or any other appropriate Writ, Order, Direction
and quash memo receipts issued to several vehicles of the Petitioners vide Annexure
`C' produced in the Writ Petition.
iii.
A
Writ in the nature of Declaration or any other appropriate Writ, Order or Direction
and direct the Respondent not to levy and collect illegal compounding fee for
carriage of goods on the top of the Petitioners vehicles as per the limits prescribed.
iv.
Direct
the 3rd and 4th Respondents to refund the compound fee already collected from the
Petitioners."
5.
The
Division Bench of the Bombay High Court dismissed the writ petition holding that
by virtue of Rule 128 (9) of the Rules, luggage of the passengers could be
stored only in the rear and side of the vehicle and not on the roof of the
vehicle. The High Court held: "15... The specifications are aimed at securing
safety and security of the passengers so also the luggage and thus the same needs
to be meticulously adhered to.
It has been stated in
the affidavit in reply that on account of the loading of the luggage on the roof
of the vehicle in huge quantities or weights, unevenly kept, is likely to result
in exposing the vehicle to accidents and as such the respondents insistence in not
permitting keeping of the luggage on the roof of the vehicles is justified. 16.
Having regard to the language used in sub rule 9(i) which mandates that the
luggage holds shall be provided at the rear or at the sides or both, what is
intended is exclusion of the making of a provision for luggage holds at any other
place. Sub rule 9(i) is indicative of the mandatory nature of the provisions as
the phraseology used is "that the luggage holds shall be provided at the
rear or at the sides or both of the tourist vehicle..."`Shall' is ordinarily
used to indicate the provisions to be mandatory. It is also settled position of
law that if a provisions (sic.) requires a thing to be done in a particular
manner, it has to be so done, or not at all.
When the provision
indicate place or places where luggage holds are to be provided, by necessary implication,
other places for luggage holds stand excluded. In this view of the matter we proceed
to accept the interpretation of Rule 128(9) as contended by the learned counsel
for respondents. We are not accepting the submission of the petitioner that in the
absence of a specific restriction in regard to having luggage holds/carrier on
the roof of the vehicle the petitioners cannot be prevented from carrying the goods/luggage
on the roof of the vehicle. On the contrary we are of the clear view that luggage
has to be stored at the places 7 specifically permitted by sub rule 9(i) viz.,
at the rear or at sides or both, but not the roof of the vehicle."
6.
The
transporters are represented by Shri. Rakesh Dwivedi, learned senior counsel, and
Ms. Madhavi Divan, learned counsel appears for the respondent-State.
7.
The
learned senior counsel, Shri. Rakesh Dwivedi, submits that in Rule 128 (9),
there is no express bar on carriage of luggage on the roof of the vehicles. He states
that the Rule requires that the transporters should provide space for the
luggage of the passengers at the rear and the sides of the vehicle, but does
not prohibit carrying the luggage on the roof of the vehicle. On the contrary,
the learned senior counsel states that Rule 93, which regulates the overall dimensions
of motor vehicles, by virtue of Rule 128 (1), gets incorporated into Rule 128. Shri.
Dwivedi pointed out to the Explanations to sub-Rule (3) and sub-Rule (3A), where
it is expressly stated that any ladder provided for uploading luggage on the
roof of a vehicle shall be excluded while calculating the "overall length"
of the vehicle.
He also refers to sub
rule (4), (6A) and (8) of Rule 93. In view of this, the learned senior counsel
would contend that in the absence of an express bar of carrying luggage on the
roof of the vehicle, a vehicle could carry luggage on the roof of a vehicle. Shri.
Dwivedi further draws our attention to Rule 125C and the Automotive Industry Standards
Code of Practice for Bus Body Design and Approval ("AIS
specification" for short) to contend that there is no express prohibition
from carrying luggage on the roof of the vehicle.
8.
Summing
up the arguments, Shri Dwivedi would urge before us that on a conjoint reading
of the Rules, it is clear that there was no prohibition for the transporters to
carry luggage of the passengers on the roof of tourist vehicles. It is also
argued that such restriction of carrying the luggage on the roof of a vehicle
unreasonably restricts the right of the transporters to carry on trade or business
which would be violative of Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution. In aid of his
submissions, Shri Dwivedi, learned senior counsel, draws our attention to a
view taken by the Karnataka High Court.
9.
Per
contra, Ms. Madhavi Divan, learned counsel for the respondent, states that Rule
128 (9) requires that sufficient space be provided at the rear and/or the sides
of the vehicle. Ms. Divan lays emphasis on the phrase "sufficient space
and size" and contends that the transporter is required compulsorily to
provide adequate space for the luggage of the passengers of a tourist vehicle. She
states that there is a limit on how much luggage a passenger can carry and such
luggage must be stored only in the luggage compartment provided for in accordance
with Rule 128 (9). The learned counsel further submits that the incorporation
of Rule 93 into Rule 128 is only for the purpose of complying with the dimensions
of the vehicle laid down in that Rule and the reference to the ladder for
loading luggage on the roof is only for the purpose of excluding the length of the
ladder, while calculating the overall dimensions of the vehicle, and does not,
in any way, imply that a tourist vehicle may carry luggage on the roof of the
vehicle.
She further states
that Rule 128(9) is a special provision for tourist vehicles only and they would
override any general provision like Rule 93, and that loading any luggage on the
roof of a vehicle is detrimental to the balance of the vehicle and thereby the
safety of the passengers inside the vehicle. Ms. Divan also states that the transporters
are duty bound by Rule 128(9) to ensure that there is sufficient space to house
the luggage of the passengers and any plea of placing the extra luggage on the
roof of the vehicle due to insufficiency of space in the compartment at the rear
and/or sides of the vehicle, would itself be a violation of the Rule.
By placing reliance on
case laws, the learned counsel states that if something is provided for in a
particular manner, then it must be done in that manner, or not at all. She
further states that there is a clear distinction between luggage and goods as defined
by Section 2(13) of the Act, and that the real intention of the transporters by
this appeal is to carry goods on the roof of the tourist vehicles, as is clear from
their prayer in the writ petition before the High Court. Both the learned
counsel have cited some case laws before us, which we will deal with, as and
when required.
10.
The
issue involved is whether a transporter can provide luggage carriers on the
roof of his vehicle.
11.
The
transporters are the permit holders of the tourist vehicles. The vehicles are registered
as tourist vehicles and endorsement is recorded on the Registration Certificate
that tourist vehicle complies with all the requirements of Rule 128 of the
Rules. Section 2 of the Act defines the meaning of the expression `contract carriage'.
Section 2(43) defines the meaning of the expression `tourist vehicle' to mean a
contract carriage, constructed or adapted and equipped and maintained in accordance
with such specifications as may be prescribed in this behalf. Section 110 of the
Act authorizes the Central Government to make rules regulating the construction,
equipment and maintenance of motor vehicles and trailers with respect to
matters enumerated in Clause (a) to (p) of the Section.
In exercise of the power
so conferred, the Central Government has framed special provisions with respect
to tourist vehicles other than motor cabs, etc. Apart from others, it provides
for specification for dimension and luggage holds for a tourist vehicle. Rule
128(1), by way of incorporation, provides that the dimension of a tourist
vehicle shall conform to the dimensions specified in Rule 93 of the Rules. Rule
128(9) provides that the luggage holds shall be provided at the rear or at the
sides or both, of the tourist vehicle. The relevant portion of Rule 93 of the
Rules is as under:
"Overall
dimension 93. Overall dimension of motor vehicles.- (1) The overall width of a
motor vehicle, measured at right angles to the axis of the motor vehicle between
perpendicular planes enclosing the extreme points, 134 shall not exceed 2.6
metres. Explanation.--For purposes of this rule, a rear- view mirror, or guard
rail or a direction indicator rub-rail (rubber beading) having maximum thickness
of 20 mm on each side of the body shall not be taken into consideration in measuring
the overall width of a motor vehicle. ......(3) In the case of an articulated vehicle
or a tractor-trailer combination specially constructed and used for the conveyance
of individual load of exceptional length,-- (i) if all the wheels of the vehicle
are fitted with pneumatic tyres, or(ii) if all the wheels of the vehicle are not
fitted with pneumatic tyres, so long as the vehicle is not driven at a speed
exceeding twenty-five kilometers per hour, the overall length shall not exceed 18
metres. Explanation.—
For the purposes of this
rule "overall length" means the length of the vehicle measured
between parallel planes passing through the extreme projection points of the vehicle
exclusive of--(i) a starting handle;(ii) any hood when down;(iii) any
fire-escape fixed to a vehicle;(iv) any post office letter-box, the length of
which measured parallel to the axis ofthe vehicle, does not exceed 30
centimeters;(v) any ladder used for loading or unloading from the roof of the
vehicle or anytail or indicator lamp or number plate fixed to a vehicle;(vi) any
spare wheel or spare wheel bracket or bumper fitted to a vehicle; 13 (vii) any
towing hook or other fitment which does not project beyond any fitment covered
by clauses (iii) to (vi). (3-A)The overall length of the construction equipment
vehicle, in travel shall not exceed
12.
75
metres: Provided that in the case of construction equipment vehicle with more than
two axles, the length shall not exceed 18 metres. Explanation.--For the purposes
of this sub-rule "overall length" means the length of the vehicle measured
between parallel planes through the extreme projection points of the vehicle,
exclusive of-- (i) any fire-escape fixed to a vehicle; (ii) any ladder used by the
operator to board or alight the vehicle; (iii) any tail or indicator lamp or number
plate fixed to a vehicle; (iv) any sphere wheel or sphere wheel bracket or bumper
fitted to a vehicle; (v) any towing hook or other fitments; (vi) any operational
attachment on front, rear or carrier chassis of construction equipment vehicle in
travel mode. ......"Rule 128(9) of the Rules is as under: "... (9)
Luggage.—
(i) Luggage holds
shall be provided at the rear or at the sides, or both, of the tourist vehicle
with sufficient space and size, and shall be rattleproof, dustproof and waterproof
with safety arrangements; 14 (ii) The light luggage racks, on strong brackets shall
be provided inside the passenger compartment running along the sides of the
tourist vehicle. Except where nylon netting is used, the underside of the rack shall
have padded upholstery to protect the passengers from an accidental hit. The general
design and fitment of the rack shall be so designed as to avoid sharp corners
and edges."12. Chapter V of the Act relates to control of transport vehicles.
Section 66 prescribes the necessity of a permit, without which, the vehicle cannot
be used in any public place.
Section 84 deals with
general conditions attaching to all permits. These conditions are deemed to be incorporated
in every permit. One of the general conditions is that the vehicle is, at all
times, to be so maintained as to comply with the requirements of the Act and the
Rules made thereunder. The authorities are empowered to cancel or suspend the permit
on the breach of any of the general conditions specified in Section 84 or any
other condition which is contained in the permit. Section 86 of the Act lays down
the power of cancellation and suspension of permit and Section 200 of the Act
confers power on the State Government that it may, by notification in the official
gazette, specify the various compounding fees for the breach of the permit
conditions.
13.
Rule
128 (9) is a special provision meant for laying down specifications for a tourist
vehicle. The sub-Rule specifically provides that in a tourist vehicle, the permit
holder should only provide luggage holds at the rear or at the sides or both,
of the tourist vehicle with sufficient space and size. When the Rules
specifically make a provision in regard to the place where luggage holds shall
be provided by necessary implication, it goes to exclude all the other places
of the tourist vehicle for being used as luggage holds. In our view, since the
language of the Rule is clear and unambiguous, no other construction need be
resorted to understand the plain language of the sub-Rule (a) of Rule 128 of
the Rules. Rule 128 is a special provision for tourist vehicles which excludes
General Rule 93 to the extent of conflict between the former and the later.
14.
On
a close examination of the argument on the incorporation of Rule 93 into Rule
128, we find that it is not the whole Rule 93 that is incorporated into Rule
128. On a plain reading of Rule 93 (3) and (3A), on which the transporters have
heavily relied upon, it is clear 16 that these Sub-Rules are not applicable to tourist
vehicles, as sub- Rule (3) is applicable only to "an articulated vehicle
or a tractor- trailer combination specially constructed and used for the conveyance
of individual load of exceptional length" and sub-Rule (3A) is applicable to
"construction equipment vehicle". Only sub- Rule (1) of Rule 93,
which is in reference to "a motor vehicle", will be incorporated and
read into Rule 128 by virtue of sub-Rule (1) of Rule 128. In other words, the
effect of Rule 128(1) with regard to the conformation to the dimensions specified
in Rule 93 are applicable to tourist vehicles and no other sub-Rule. Therefore,
we are not inclined to agree with Shri Dwivedi that Rule 93 must be fully incorporated
into Rule 128, thereby implying that the transporters may load goods on the
roof of a tourist vehicle due to the reference to a ladder to upload luggage
found in sub-Rules (3) and (3A). Both these sub rules specifically refer to
vehicles that are for the purpose of carrying heavy loads and not for carrying
tourists.
15.
The
cardinal rule of interpretation is to allow the general words to take their
natural wide meaning unless the language of the Statute gives a different
indication of such meaning and is likely to lead to absurd result, in which
case their meaning can be restricted by the application of this rule and they
may be required to fall in line with the specific things designated by the
preceding words. When the language used in the statute is clear and
unambiguous, it is the duty of the court to give effect to it.
16.
In
Grasim Industries Ltd. v. Collector of Customs, Bombay, (2002) 4 SCC 297, this
Court took the view: "10. No words or expressions used in any statute can be
said to be redundant or superfluous. In matters of interpretation one should not
concentrate too much on one word and pay too little attention to other words.
No provision in the statute and no word in any section can be construed in
isolation. Every provision and every word must be looked at generally and in the
context in which it is used. It is said that every statute is an edict of the legislature.
The elementary principle of interpreting any word while considering a statute is
to gather the mens or sententia legis of the legislature. Where the words are clear
and there is no obscurity, and there is no ambiguity and the intention of the legislature
is clearly conveyed, there is no scope for the court to take upon itself the task
of amending or alternating the statutory provisions. Wherever the language is
clear the intention of the legislature is to be gathered from the language used.
While doing so, what has been said in the statute as also what has not been said
has to be noted. The construction which requires for its support addition or
substitution of words or which results in rejection of words has to be
avoided..."
17.
In
Bhavnagar University v. Palitana Sugar Mill (P) Ltd., (2003) 2 SCC 111, this
Court held: "24. True meaning of a provision of law has to be determined
on the basis of what it provides by its clear language, with due regard to the
scheme of law. 25. Scope of the legislation on the intention of the legislature
cannot be enlarged when the language of the provision is plain and unambiguous.
In other words statutory enactments must ordinarily be construed according to its
plain meaning and no words shall be added, altered or modified unless it is
plainly necessary to do so to prevent a provision from being unintelligible, absurd,
unreasonable, unworkable or totally irreconcilable with the rest of the
statute."
18.
In
the case of Harshad S. Mehta v. State of Maharashtra,(2001) 8 SCC 257, this
Court opined: "34. There is no doubt that if the words are plain and
simple and call for only one construction, that construction is to be adopted whatever
be its effect..."
19.
In
the case of Union of India v. Hansoli Devi, (2002) 7 SCC 273, this Court
observed: "9...It is a cardinal principle of construction of a statute that
when the language of the statute is plain and unambiguous, then the court must give
effect to the words used in the statute and it would not be open to the courts
to adopt a hypothetical construction on the ground that such construction is more
consistent with the alleged object and policy of the Act..."
20.
In
the case of Patangrao Kadam v. Prithviraj Sayajirao Yadav Deshmukh,(2001) 3 SCC
594, this Court took the view: "12. Thus when there is an ambiguity in
terms of a provision, one must look at well-settled principles of construction
but it is not open to first create an ambiguity which does not exist and then try
to resolve the same by taking recourse to some general principle."
21.
In
light of the above, we are not inclined to agree with the submissions of the
learned senior counsel for the appellants that Rule 128 (9) does not place a
prohibition on carrying of luggage on the roof of a tourist vehicle. If that was
so, it would have to be incorporated thus in the bare language of the
provision. Since there is no ambiguity in the language of Rule 128 (9), there
is no reason for us to read the same into the Rules.
22.
In
the case of Taylor v. Taylor, (1875-76) L.R. 1 Ch. D. 426, the Court took a view
that if a particular method is prescribed for doing a certain thing by the
Statute, it rules out any other method. This view has been adopted by the Privy
Council in the case of Nazir Ahmed v. King Emperor, AIR 1936 PC 253. By this logic,
we are inclined to accept the argument of Ms. Divan that the luggage of the passengers
may only be stored in the compartments provided at the sides and/or at the rear
of the bus, as the buses are mandated to provide sufficient space for the
storage of luggage.
23.
There
is another argument advanced on behalf of the transporters before us, who claim
that the prohibition to carry luggage of the passengers on the roof of the vehicle
is an unreasonable restriction and, therefore, violative of Article 19(1)(g) of
the Constitution. In our view, the restriction imposed by the Rule is a reasonable
restriction keeping in view the safety of the passengers in a tourist vehicle. Therefore,
the Rule cannot be said either arbitrary or unreasonable or violative of
Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution. At the time of hearing of the appeals, reference
was made to AIS specifications to contend that specification so provided support
the interpretation given by the Karnataka High Court to Rule 21 128(a) of the Rules.
In our view, this submission of the learned counsel for the appellants has no
merit and is, therefore, rejected.
24.
In
the result, the appeals and writ petitions fail. They are dismissed. Costs are
made easy.
..............................J.
[ G. S. SINGHVI ]
..............................J.
[ H. L. DATTU ]
New
Delhi,
August
02, 2011.
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