CUMBUM ROADWAYS (P) LTD. vs BALAGURU BUS SERVICE PVT. LTD. & ORS.

The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal under the Motor Vehicles Act, affirming the decision of the Appellate Tribunal which awarded the permit to the respondent based on higher merit marks (12.08) compared to the appellant (8.79). The Court held that public interest must prevail over considerations of compassion in the distribution of permits, emphasizing that the best service to the travelling public should be the primary criterion for permit allocation. The appellant's argument regarding the respondent's prior permit was rejected as insufficient to overturn the merit-based decision.