Freight regulation for postal goods in stage carriages upheld as a valid permit condition, not a misuse of quasi-judicial power.

The State's power to issue directions on fixing fares and freights was held wide enough to cover charges for carrying postal goods in stage carriages, treating such charges as freight. A permit condition requiring carriage at Government-fixed rates was also upheld because it operated after the quasi-judicial decision to grant the permit, not as part of that decision. Once the rates were notified, acceptance of those rates became an automatic condition under the permit framework, leaving no discretion to the transport authority on that aspect. The argument that the special permit provisions displaced the general direction power was rejected, the two sets of provisions being complementary. The regulatory action was therefore valid.

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Issues: Whether the State Government could direct fixation of charges for carrying postal goods in stage carriages under Section 43(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939, and whether such direction impermissibly interfered with the quasi-judicial function of the Regional Transport Authority in attaching conditions to permits under Section 48(3)(xv).

Analysis: The power under Section 43(1) to issue directions regarding the fixing of fares and freights was held to be wide enough to include charges for carrying postal goods, as such charges were treated as a species of freight. The Court further held that the attachment of a condition to carry postal goods at government-fixed rates was not part of the quasi-judicial decision whether to grant a permit under Sections 47 and 48(1), but arose after that decision had already been made. Under Section 59(3)(c), once the relevant rates were notified, acceptance of those rates became a condition automatically attachable to the permit, leaving no discretion to the Regional Transport Authority on that aspect. The special-provisions argument based on Section 48(3)(xv) and the maxim generalia specialibus non derogant was rejected because the provisions were considered complementary, not conflicting.

Conclusion: The Government direction and notification were valid, and the Regional Transport Authority acted lawfully in attaching the condition to the permit.

Final Conclusion: The appeal failed and the impugned regulatory action was upheld.

Ratio Decidendi: A government direction fixing charges for carrying postal goods in stage carriages falls within the power to fix freights under Section 43(1), and the resulting permit condition may be attached automatically without trenching upon the quasi-judicial function of the permit-granting authority.

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