In a significant ruling today, the Supreme Court intervened in a contentious directive by the Tamil Nadu government, upholding the rights of inter-state bus operators holding All India Tourist Permits (AITP). The court’s interim order directs Tamil Nadu authorities to refrain from impeding the movement of buses registered in other states, provided they possess an AITP.
The legal challenge, brought before a Vacation Bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, contested Tamil Nadu’s mandate requiring non-local buses to re-register with regional transport authorities to operate within the state. Operators argued that such directives contradicted Section 46 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, which affirms the validity of vehicle registrations across India.
Highlighting the practical necessity for interstate travel, particularly from Kerala through Tamil Nadu, petitioners underscored the geographical constraints and national highway routes essential for their operations.
The Supreme Court’s decision follows previous litigation where similar restrictions were contested and overturned, reaffirming the mobility rights of AITP holders. The court’s intervention comes amidst Tamil Nadu’s concerns over revenue losses from reduced road tax collections, citing operators’ registrations in states like Nagaland with lower fees.
The court’s verdict, granting relief to operators, underscores the broader implications for interstate commerce and mobility rights under national legislation. This ruling sets a precedent for regulatory harmony across states while protecting the interests of interstate transport operators under national law.
