ADARSH TRAVELS BUS SERVICE & ANR. vs STATE OF U.P. & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that under Sections 68B, 68C, and 68D of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939, private operators cannot ply stage carriages on nationalised routes, even if they have overlapping permits, due to the absence of a saving clause in the schemes. The Court emphasized that the schemes must prioritize the interests of the travelling public, which justifies the prohibition of private operators on notified routes. Consequently, the appeals were dismissed, affirming the total prohibition of private operators from operating on nationalised routes.