SUMER CHAND SHARMA & ANR. vs STATE OF U.P. & ANR. ETC. ETC.

The Supreme Court held that private operators cannot ply stage carriages over common sectors of nationalised routes, even if they do not pick up or set down passengers, as per Chapter IV-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939. The Court clarified that permissions granted under Section 10(1)(c) of the Uttar Pradesh Road Transport Services (Development) Act, 1955, ceased to be effective from April 1, 1971, due to inconsistency with the Motor Vehicles Act. The petitions for renewal of authorisations by private operators were dismissed, affirming the statutory prohibition against such operations.