A SECRETARY, REGIONAL TRANSPORT AUTHORITY,BANGALORE AND ANO vs D.P. SHARMA AND OTHERS

The Supreme Court held that the Karnataka Contract Carriages (Acquisition) Act, 1976, specifically Sections 14 and 20(3), grants a monopoly to the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation for operating contract carriages, thereby prohibiting the issuance of special permits under Section 63(6) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939. The Court found that the High Court's interpretation allowing special permits for vehicles not previously issued such permits was incorrect. Consequently, the appeals were allowed, affirming the prohibition on granting special permits post the enactment of the 1976 Act.