In Brief
The Supreme Court's Constitution Bench resolved a conflict in law concerning motor vehicle permits under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939. The case examined whether existing permit holders could increase trips or vehicles through variation applications after a state transport scheme is approved for a route. The Court held that once an approved scheme is published for a notified area or route, all permits in that area are frozen. Any application to increase trips or vehicles amounts to a new permit application, which is prohibited under the scheme. The Court overruled prior conflicting precedents and held that Chapter IV-A provisions supersede Chapter IV, preventing variations in scheme-covered areas except through formal scheme modification procedures.
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