Orissa HC direct RTO to decide on vehicle registration cancellation application

Bijaya Kumar Mallick Vs State of Odisha and others (Orissa High Court)

In the case of Bijaya Kumar Mallick vs. State of Odisha and others, the Orissa High Court addressed a petition filed by Mallick, seeking the cancellation of a vehicle registration certificate for a vehicle that had been destroyed. Despite submitting an application in July 2024, the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) of Chandikhole had not taken any action. Mallick’s application was in line with the instructions from the State Transport Authority (STA), which emphasized that pending taxes or penalties should not hinder the cancellation process under Section 55 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The High Court directed the RTO to consider the application in accordance with STA guidelines and issue a decision within three weeks. The Court refrained from expressing any opinion on the merits of the application and ordered prompt communication of the decision to the petitioner.

FULL TEXT OF THE JUDGMENT/ORDER OF ORISSA HIGH COURT

This matter is taken up through hybrid mode.

2. This writ petition has been filed for a direction to the Regional Transport Officer, Chandikhole-Opposite Party No.3 to pass necessary order for cancellation of registration certificate in respect of vehicle bearing Registration No. OR-04-E-9308 (MINITK) pursuant to the application made to that effect by the Petitioner on 11^th July, 2024 (Annexure-2).

3. Learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that the registration certificate of the vehicle in question has been issued in favour of the Petitioner. But, in the meantime, the vehicle has been destroyed for which the Petitioner made an application in proper format (Annexure-2) for cancellation of registration certificate under Section 55 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (for short ‘MV Act’), which is yet to be considered. It is further submitted that the Commissioner-cum-Chairman, STA-Opposite Party No.1 vide his letter No.11010/TC dated 11^th December, 2020 (Annexure-1) instructed all the Transport Officers of the State to follow the procedure laid down therein for cancellation of registration certificate under Section 55 of the MV Act. It is also indicated therein that the registering authority will cancel the certificate of registration within ten days and enter the same in VAHAN application and that pendency of arrear tax and penalty under the Odisha Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1975 (for short, ‘OMVT Act’) or Tax Recovery Proceeding or audit dues (IR) or VCR/E-challan or Prosecution Report shall not be a bar for cancellation of certificate or registration under Section 55 of the MV Act.

4. In view of the above, learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that there is no impediment for consideration of the application of the Petitioner under Annexure-2. The Regional Transport Officer, Chandikhole-Opposite Party No.3 although received the application under Annexure-2 for cancellation of registration certificate, but has not taken any action on the same. Hence, this writ petition has been filed for the aforesaid relief.

5. Mr. Behera, learned Standing Counsel for the Transport Department submits that the application submitted by the Petitioner under Annexure-2 is required to be considered keeping in mind the instructions issued by the Commissioner-cum-Chairman, STA, Odisha-Opposite Party No.1.

6. In view of the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties, this Court without expressing any opinion on the merits of the application filed by the Petitioner under Annexure-2 disposes of this writ petition with a direction that on production of certified copy of this order, the Regional Transport Officer, Chandikhole-Opposite Party No.3 shall take a decision on the application of the Petitioner under Annexure-2 for cancellation of registration certificate in respect of vehicle bearing Registration No. OR-04-E-9308 (MINITK) in the light of the instructions issued by Commissioner-cum-Chairman, STA, Odisha-Opposite Party No.1 under Annexure-1 as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of three weeks therefrom and communicate the same to the Petitioner.

Urgent certified copy of this order be granted on proper application.