Petitioner has preferred a request before the respondent for replacement of the vehicle under a permit with a new one obtained on lease. It is submitted that the respondent has refused to consider his request for replacement of the vehicle for the reason that the vehicle sought to be brought in by way of replacement is not in the ownership of the petitioner but it is a leased vehicle. The issue is covered by a decision reported in Rajan v. Regional Transport Authority (2014 (1) KLT 387), wherein it has held that a person who obtains possession of a vehicle under a lease agreement is also entitled to operate the said vehicle in a permit issued to that person. Under these circumstances, I direct the respondent to consider the request for replacement of the vehicle in accordance with the dictum laid down in the aforesaid decision within a period of three weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. Subject to the above direction, the writ petition is disposed of.
prp A.K.JAYASANKARAN NAMBIAR JUDGE