Sri Ganesh College Of Arts & ... vs National Highways Authority Of ...

Citation : 2022 Latest Caselaw 15048 Mad
Judgement Date : 8 September, 2022

Madras High Court
Sri Ganesh College Of Arts & ... vs National Highways Authority Of ... on 8 September, 2022
                                                                         Writ Petition Nos.23756 and 23757 of 2013


                                  IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

                                                    Dated: 8/9/2022

                                                       CORAM

                                  THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N. SATHISH KUMAR

                                       Writ Petition Nos.23756 and 23757 of 2013


                     Sri Ganesh College of Arts & Science
                     rep. By its Authorised Signatory
                     Kamaraj Nagar Colony
                     Ammapet
                     Salem 636 014.                       ...         Petitioner

                                                           Vs

                     1. National Highways Authority of India
                        rep. By its Chairman
                        G 5 & 6 Sector 10
                        Dwarka
                        New Delhi 110 075.

                     2. The Project Director
                        National Highways Authority of India
                        21-3/D3-1 Sri Nagar Colony
                        Narasothipatti
                        Salem 636 004.

                     3. M.V.R.Infrastructure and Tolways Pvt Ltd
                        M.V.R.Toll Plaza
                        Kottagoundampatty
                        Omalur Taluk
                        Salem District 636 011.          ...          Respondents


                     Page No:1/5

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
                                                                                  Writ Petition Nos.23756 and 23757 of 2013


                     PRAYER :             Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India

                     praying for the issuance of a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the

                     records of the respondents relating to the order of the third respondent in Letter

                     No.MVR/BOT/TN02/379 dated 18/10/2012 and quash the same and direct the

                     respondents herein to collect entry fees at toll plaza for the educational

                     institution vehicles of the petitioner herein namely TN30D 2889, TN27P4884,

                     TN29P8899, TN30Y9909, TN59V7779, TN34B3040, TN46 B 6397,

                     TN30H7989, TN30E 9093, TN34C 7677, etc., on par with the entry fees for

                     school buses carrying school students.



                                        For Petitioner            ...   Mr.Kandhan Duraisami
                                        For respondents           ...   M/s.P.Wilson & Associates
                                                                        for R.R.1 and 2.
                                                                        Mr.J.Kannan
                                                                        for R.3.
                                                                 -----
                                                              ORDER

This writ petition has been filed to quash the respondents relating to the order of the third respondent in Letter No.MVR/BOT/TN02/379 dated 18/10/2012 and direct the respondents herein to collect entry fees at toll plaza for the educational institution vehicles of the petitioner herein namely TN30D 2889, TN27P4884, TN29P8899, TN30Y9909, TN59V7779, TN34B3040, Page No:2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition Nos.23756 and 23757 of 2013 TN46 B 6397, TN30H7989, TN30E 9093, TN34C 7677, etc., on par with the entry fees for school buses carrying school students.

2. Heard Mr.Kandhan Duraisami, learned counsel for the petitioner, M/s.P.Wilson & Associates for the first and second respondents and Mr.J.Kannan, learned counsel for the third respondent.

3. It is the submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the discrimination sought to be made between the students of Schools and Colleges is wholly impermissible as both are educational institutions and the students in both the categories of educational institutions should be treated equally and any unequal treatment for the purpose of granting concession in toll plaza would be violative of the right of equality.

4. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner fairly brought to the notice of this Court, the judgment rendered by a Division Bench of this Court in Writ Appeal Nos.560, 561, 563 and 564 of 2014 dated 25.04.2014 upholding against the petitioner. The relevant portion reads as follows:- Page No:3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition Nos.23756 and 23757 of 2013 “5. We do not find any reason to entertain the writ appeals. The notification is very clear. When there is no ambiguity in the words / terms used by an authority, then the Court of law shall not venture to interpret the same in a different way. Admittedly, a school is different from a college. A school student is also different from a college student. The notification is only a concession given to the school students. The appellant cannot seek the same as a matter of right. The power of judicial review in such matters is very limited. The learned Singe Judge, has taken note of the law governing the issues raised, while passing the impugned order and we find no infirmity in the impugned order....”

5.Such view of the matter, as the issue has already been decided by the Division Bench of this Court, and the orders are also filed to that effect, nothing survives in these petitions for further adjudication. These Writ Petitions stand dismissed accordingly. No costs.

8/9/2022 Index : Yes / No Internet: Yes Speaking/non speaking order mvs.

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