JUDGMENT : N. NAGARESH, J. 1. W.P. (C) Nos. 19537, 37551, 37980, 38261, 39289 and 42719 of 2023 and 4555 of 2024 are filed by Tourist Vehicle Operators. The petitioners seek to declare that the Circular No. B1/31/2023-Trans dated 06.06.2023 issued by the Transport (B) Department, Government of Kerala does not apply to vehicles having All India Tourist Permit and to restrain the respondents from imposing penalty on All India Permit Vehicles alleging violation of the Circular dated 06.06.2023 and Section 66(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. 2. W.P. (C) No. 32419/2023 has been filed by a Stage Carriage Operator. The petitioner seeks to direct the officers under the Motor Vehicles Department of the State of Kerala to take effective measures to ensure that the Tourist Vehicles issued with All India Tourist Permit under the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023 are not operated as Stage Carriages by transporting tourists individually on the basis of separate fares paid proportionate to the distance travelled by them. The petitioner also seeks to declare that Rule 6(2) and Rule 10 of the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules is ultravires the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. 3. W.P. (C) No. 38410/2023 has been filed by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), a State Transport Undertaking established under Section 3 of the Road Transport Corporation Act, 1950, seeking to declare that Rules 6(2), 10(1) and 13(1) of the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023 as ultravires and to direct the Transport Commissioner to take appropriate steps against the operation of All India Tourist Permit Vehicles through the Nationalised Routes/Sector and Scheme covered area/route formulated under Chapter VI of the Motor Vehicles Act. The petitioner-KSRTC also seeks to declare that the All India Tourist Permit Vehicles holding permit under the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023 cannot operate through the Nationalised Routes/Sector and Scheme covered area/route formulated under Chapter VI of the Motor Vehicles Act. 4. The petitioner in W.P. (C) No. 19537/2023 is the owner of nine All India Permit Vehicles registered in Kerala. The petitioner is operating Inter-state Bus services daily, mainly to and from Ernakulam to Bengaluru and Ernakulam to Chennai. Bookings for these bus services are done online. 4. The petitioner in W.P. (C) No. 19537/2023 is the owner of nine All India Permit Vehicles registered in Kerala. The petitioner is operating Inter-state Bus services daily, mainly to and from Ernakulam to Bengaluru and Ernakulam to Chennai. Bookings for these bus services are done online. The 1st respondent issued a Circular dated 06.06.2023 regarding Contract Carriages unauthorisedly operating as Stage Carriages within the State of Kerala, adversely affecting the revenue of KSRTC and has directed to take immediate action against the violators. 5. The petitioner states that though the buses are run to and from Ernakulam to Bengaluru and Ernakulam to Chennai, all passengers do not board on the buses at the starting point and get down at the terminal point. For the sake of convenience of the passengers, they are permitted to board the buses at certain specified boarding points in the starting City and are permitted to get down from the buses at certain specified disembarking points. 6. According to the petitioner, this is permissible for the vehicles having All India Tourist Permit, in view of Rules 6 and 10 of the Motor Vehicles Rules. However, the vehicles of the petitioner are intercepted by the respondents alleging violation of the Circular dated 06.06.2023 and imposing penalty. 7. The petitioner in W.P. (C) No. 37551/2023 has four buses which are used for tourist purposes. The buses have All India Tourist Permits. The petitioner would urge that the Circular dated 06.06.2023 relates to illegal operation of Contract Carriage services in violation of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and the Rules. The vehicles of the petitioner are covered by All India Tourist Permits and are not Private Contract Carriages. Coercive proceedings taken by the respondents against the petitioner’s vehicles by treating them as Contract Carriages, are not permissible. The Circular dated 06.06.2023 cannot be used to interdict the vehicles covered by All India Tourist Permits. The petitioners in W.P. (C) Nos. 37980/2023, 38261/2023, 39289/2023, 42719/2023 and 4555/2024 are all similarly situated operators of All India Tourist Vehicles. 8. W.P. (C) No. 32419/2023 has been filed by a Stage Carriage operator conducting service on the strength of Stage Carriage permit issued under the provisions of Chapter V of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The petitioners in W.P. (C) Nos. 37980/2023, 38261/2023, 39289/2023, 42719/2023 and 4555/2024 are all similarly situated operators of All India Tourist Vehicles. 8. W.P. (C) No. 32419/2023 has been filed by a Stage Carriage operator conducting service on the strength of Stage Carriage permit issued under the provisions of Chapter V of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The petitioner states that a Tourist Vehicle cannot operate as a Stage Carriage and if it is so found, such vehicle is liable to be seized and detained under Section 207 of the Motor Vehicles Act. However, a substantial proportion of the Tourist Vehicle operators who have applied for and obtained All India Tourist Permits under the Rules, 2023 are using or allowing their Tourist Vehicles to be operated as Stage Carriages to the manifest prejudice of persons like the petitioner, who holds Stage Carriage permits issued by the authorities. 9. W.P. (C) No. 38410/2023 has been filed by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). The KSRTC submits that the Corporation holds Stage Carriage permits issued by the Regional Transport Authorities. The Motor Vehicles Act provides for two types of permits for Public Service Vehicles, Contract Carriage permit and Stage Carriage permit. According to the KSRTC, a Contract Carriage operates when a transport vehicle is hired for a fixed or agreed upon sum under an express or implied contract with a passenger or group of passengers from one point to another or on a time basis, regardless of the route, and without stopping to pick up or drop off passengers not included in the contract along the way. 10. In the case of Stage Carriages, a transport vehicle is not hired as a whole, and individual passengers pay separate fares for either the entire journey or specific stages. The restrictions associated with Contract Carriages, such as the fixed sum arrangement and the journey between two points without the right to pick up or set down passengers enroute, do not apply to Stage Carriages. 11. The restrictions associated with Contract Carriages, such as the fixed sum arrangement and the journey between two points without the right to pick up or set down passengers enroute, do not apply to Stage Carriages. 11. The KSRTC alleges that after coming into force of the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023, many Tourist Vehicle operators have obtained All India Tourist Permits and have been operating their Contract Carriages as Stage Carriages on the argument that Rule 6(2), Rule 10(1) and Rule 13(1) of the Rules, 2023 enable the operators with All India Tourist Permits to enter into individual contracts with the passengers and therefore can pick up and drop passengers enroute. Such Tourist Buses are operated like Stage Carriages with regular daily trips on specified routes with destination boards and often advertising through social media. Such action is completely against Chapter VI of the Motor Vehicles Act which is having an overriding effect over the provisions in Chapter V and the Rules made thereunder. 12. The KSRTC therefore seeks to declare that Rule 6(2) of the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023 is ultravires Section 2(7) read with Section 2(43) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 insofar as it permits use of an All India Tourist Permits for transportation of tourists individually. The KSRTC also seeks to declare that Rule 10(1) of the Rules, 2023 is ultravires Section 2(7) read with Section 2(43) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 insofar as it permits to enter into individual contracts with the passengers with separate purpose and destination. The KSRTC also seeks to declare that Rule 13(1) of the Rules, 2023 is ultravires Section 2(7) read with Section 2(43) insofar as it exempts All India Tourist Permit holders from adhering to the conditions prescribed in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 to not operate as a Stage Carriage. 13. The question arising for consideration in these writ petitions is whether vehicles holding All India Tourist Permit issued under the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023 can run services picking and dropping passengers enroute their journey. The Stage Carriage Operators including the KSRTC would urge that such operators of All India Tourist Permit Vehicles cannot run their services like Stage Carriages, picking passengers at various stages of journey and dropping passengers at various points. The Stage Carriage Operators including the KSRTC would urge that such operators of All India Tourist Permit Vehicles cannot run their services like Stage Carriages, picking passengers at various stages of journey and dropping passengers at various points. The KSRTC would further urge that the All India Tourist Permit Operators cannot operate through nationalised sector/scheme covered area/route formulated under Chapter VI of the Motor Vehicles Act. The KSRTC would further assert that there is restriction on grant of permit to any person in respect of a notified area or a notified route by the authorities except in accordance with the Scheme framed thereunder. 14. The incident that gave rise to filing of these writ petitions, is issuance of Circular No. B1/31/2023-Trans dated 06.06.2023 by the Secretary to the Transport Department, Government of Kerala. The Circular stated that various Contract Carriages plying within the State of Kerala are unauthorisedly operating as Stage Carriages, that this adversely affects the revenue of KSRTC and that the Regional Transport Officers/Motor Transport Vehicle Officials should take immediate action against the violators. The said Circular dated 06.06.2023 directed the Transport Commissioner to submit a review report within one month. On the basis of the Circular, the respondents issued memos to various Tourist Vehicle Operators alleging operation of service in violation of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act especially with respect to the conditions and purposes for which permit is granted under Section 66(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Along with memos, challans were also issued on the Tourist Vehicle operators imposing penalty. 15. I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioners who are Tourist Vehicle Operators, the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the KSRTC and the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner in W.P. (C) No. 32419/2023. I have also heard the Special Government Pleader (Industries) Sri. P. Santhosh Kumar and the learned Deputy Solicitor General of India Sri. S. Manu. 16. I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioners who are Tourist Vehicle Operators, the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the KSRTC and the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner in W.P. (C) No. 32419/2023. I have also heard the Special Government Pleader (Industries) Sri. P. Santhosh Kumar and the learned Deputy Solicitor General of India Sri. S. Manu. 16. Section 2(7) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 defines a “Contract Carriage” as follows: “Contract carriage” means a motor vehicle which carries a passenger or passengers for hire or reward and is engaged under a contract, whether expressed or implied, for the use of such vehicle as a whole for the carriage of passengers mentioned therein and entered into by a person with a holder of a permit in relation to such vehicle or any person authorised by him in this behalf on a fixed or an agreed rate or sum: (a) on a time basis, whether or not with reference to any route or distance. (b) from one point to another and in either case, without stopping to pick up or set down passengers not included in the contract anywhere during the journey, and includes: (i) a maxicab. (ii) a motor cab notwithstanding that separate fares are charged for its passengers. The definition would indicate that a Contract Carriage can be engaged on a time basis, whether or not with reference to any route or distance; or from one point to another. In either case, the contract for service should be without stopping to pick up or set down passengers not included in the contract anywhere during the journey.” 17. Section 2(40) defines the term “Stage Carriage” to mean a motor vehicle constructed or adapted to carry more than six passengers excluding the driver for hire or reward at separate fares paid by or for individual passengers, either for the whole journey or for stage of the journey. It is therefore evident that a Stage Carriage can levy separate fares from individual passengers either for the whole journey or for stages of the journey, which in turn would necessarily indicate that a Stage Carriage can pick up or set down passengers enroute. 18. The term “Tourist Vehicle” is defined in Section 2(43) of the Act to mean a Contract Carriage, constructed or adapted and equipped and maintained in accordance with such specifications as may be prescribed in this behalf. 18. The term “Tourist Vehicle” is defined in Section 2(43) of the Act to mean a Contract Carriage, constructed or adapted and equipped and maintained in accordance with such specifications as may be prescribed in this behalf. 19. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, as per GSR 302(E) dated 18.04.2023, has framed the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Rules, 2023’). Rule 2(d) provides that the term “Tourist Vehicle” shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in Section 2(43) of the Act. As per Rule 2(e), “Tourist Vehicle operator” means a person who owns a tourist vehicle in respect of which an All India Tourist Permit is issued under these Rules. 20. Rule 6 of the Rules, 2023 gives the scope and validity of permit. Rule 6 provides that All India Tourist Permits shall be valid through out the territory of India and an All India Tourist Permit shall be used for transport of tourists individually or in a group, along with their personal luggage. Rule 10 mandates that a Tourist Vehicle plying under the All India Tourist Permit shall at all times carry a list of tourists in electronic form or in physical form, which shall contain the details of origin and destination of each tourist and Tourist Vehicle operator shall maintain record electronically, of the tourists, including journey details, for a minimum period of one year. 21. It is evident from Sections 2(7) and 2(40) of the Motor Vehicles Act that a Contract Carriage is a transport vehicle hired for a fixed or agreed upon sum under an express or implied contract with a passenger or group of passengers to be transported from one point to another or on a time basis, regardless of the route, and without stopping to pick up or drop off passengers not included in the contract along the way. A Stage Carriage is a transport vehicle not hired as a whole, and individual passengers may pay separate fares for either the entire journey or specific stages. The restrictions associated with Contract Carriage as regards fixed sum arrangements and the journey between two points without the right to pick up or set down passengers enroute, do not apply to Stage Carriages. 22. The restrictions associated with Contract Carriage as regards fixed sum arrangements and the journey between two points without the right to pick up or set down passengers enroute, do not apply to Stage Carriages. 22. The essential difference between a Stage Carriage and a Contract Carriage permit is that while a Stage Carriage run as a regular bus service for passengers where the entire route is split up in various “stages” till the destination point, in the case of a Contract Carriage, a route is defined from one destination to another destination. A Contract Carriage is not expected to run as a daily carriage service as it is based on a prior contract between an operator and a passenger/passengers to ply from one destination to another destination. 23. Section 88(9) of the Motor Vehicles Act provides that subject to any Rules that may be made by the Central Government under Section 88(14), any State Transport Authority may, for the purpose of promoting tourism, grant permits in respect of Tourist Vehicles valid for the whole of India, or in such contiguous stages not being less than three in number including the State in which the permit is issued. A Tourist Vehicle therefore remains solely as a Contract Carriage under the Rules, 2023 and a permit issued under Section 88(9) does not give authorisation to a Tourist Vehicle possessing All India Tourist Permits to be operated as a Stage Carriage. A Tourist Vehicle can only function as a Contract Carriage and cannot operate as a Stage Carriage. 24. It is evident from the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and the Rules made thereunder that Stage Carriages are intended to meet the needs of the general public travelling from one destination to different destinations with varying purposes and Contract Carriages are intended for those who want to hire a public service vehicle for their transportation from one destination to another destination. All India Tourist Permit Vehicles are contract carriages. 25. The Hon’ble Apex Court in the judgment in Roshanlal Gautam v. State of Uttar Pradesh and others, AIR 1965 SC 991 held that a Contract Carriage is engaged for the whole of the journey between two points for carriage of a person or persons hiring it but it does not have the right to pick up other passengers enroute. 25. The Hon’ble Apex Court in the judgment in Roshanlal Gautam v. State of Uttar Pradesh and others, AIR 1965 SC 991 held that a Contract Carriage is engaged for the whole of the journey between two points for carriage of a person or persons hiring it but it does not have the right to pick up other passengers enroute. A Stage Carriage on the other hand, runs between two points irrespective of any prior contract and it is boarded by passengers enroute who pay the fare for the distance they propose to travel. 26. In the judgment in Brijendra Kumar Chaudhari and another v. State of U.P. and others, (1992) 4 SCC 703 , the Apex Court held that in respect of a service by a Contract Carriage, there must be a prior contract expressed or implied; that the contract must indicate as to who are the passengers to be carried; that the contract shall have been entered into by a person with the holder of the permit or any person authorised by him and that the engagement under a contract is for use of the vehicle as a whole. The Apex Court held that a Stage Carriage is intended to meet the requirements of the general travelling public and a Contract Carriage is for those who want to hire the vehicle collectively or individually for a group or party for their transport from place to place and the whole vehicle is at their disposal. 27. While considering the scope and ambit of the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) rules, 2023, it is to be noted that the term ‘Tour’ or ‘Tourist’ has not been defined in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 or in any Rules made thereunder. As per Cambridge Dictionary, ‘Tour’ means ‘a visit to a place or area, especially one during which you look around the place or area and learn about it’. Another meaning assigned to the word is ‘a journey made for pleasure, especially as a holiday, visiting several different places in an area’. The word ‘Tourist’ means ‘someone who visits a place for pleasure and interest, usually while on holiday’. 28. By passage of time, the word ‘Tour’ has gained wider connotations. Believers visiting religious places of worship, is Pilgrimage Tourism. Students visiting workshops and factories, is Study Tour. Travel of businessmen for their official purpose, can be Business Tour. The word ‘Tourist’ means ‘someone who visits a place for pleasure and interest, usually while on holiday’. 28. By passage of time, the word ‘Tour’ has gained wider connotations. Believers visiting religious places of worship, is Pilgrimage Tourism. Students visiting workshops and factories, is Study Tour. Travel of businessmen for their official purpose, can be Business Tour. Trekking mountains is Adventure Tourism. Visiting seashores can be Beach Tourism. Travel to watch animals in any Forest Sanctuary is Wildlife Tourism. Visiting virgin environments is Eco Tourism. Politicians and social workers undertake Organizational Tours. Shopping Tourism is another addition to the Tourism Sector, involving even international journeys. Attending weddings at times can also be called a Tour in this era of Destination Weddings. Even going to hospitals for treatment at far away places is Medical Tourism. Thus, almost every journey, other than one routinely undertaken by people for domestic or avocation purposes, may fall within the ambit of the term Tour, making the persons travelling Tourists. The term ‘Tourist Vehicle’ as contained in the Motor Vehicles Act should be understood in this modern context. 29. The All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023 do not define the term ‘Tour’ or ‘Tourist’. The term ‘Tourist Vehicle’ is defined to have the same meaning as assigned to them in Section 2(43) of the Motor Vehicles Act. Section 2(43) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 states that ‘Tourist Vehicle’ means a Contract Carriage constructed or adapted and equipped and maintained in accordance with such specifications as may be prescribed in this behalf. Therefore, a Tourist Vehicle is essentially a Contract Carriage. The prime distinction between Contract Carriage and a Tourist Vehicle is in construction, adaptation, equipments and maintenance of the vehicle. On other scores, a Tourist Vehicle is a Contract Carriage. 30. A Contract Carriage is a motor vehicle, which carries a passenger or passengers for hire or reward, and is engaged under a contract, whether expressed or implied, for the use of such vehicles as a whole for the carriage of passengers mentioned therein and entered into by a person with a holder of a permit in relation to vehicle or any person authorised by him in this behalf on a fixed or an agreed rate of sum on a time basis or from one point to another. In either case, the journey should be without stopping to pick up or set down passengers, not included in the contract, anywhere during the journey. 31. The essential difference between a Contract Carriage and a Stage Carriage is that in the former there is a contract between the passenger or passengers for the use of the vehicle as a whole for a fixed or agreed sum, while in the latter there is absence of such a contract and the passengers board the Bus enroute and pay the fare for the distance they propose to travel. The Hon’ble Apex Court in the judgment in Brijendra Kumar Chaudhari and another (supra) held that a contract carriage is engaged for the whole of the journey between two points for carriage of a person or persons hiring it, but it has no right to pick up other passengers enroute. 32. Thus, a transport vehicle is a Contract Carriage when the vehicle as a whole is hired for a fixed or agreed sum under a contract expressed or implied by a passenger or passengers from one point to another or on a time basis, whether or not with reference to any route, and in either case without stopping to pick up or set down along the line of route Passengers not included in the contract. It was so held in the judgment of this Court in Sunilraj v. State of Kerala, 2019 (2) KLT 211 . 33. Under Section 2(7), whether the prohibition of picking up or setting down passengers enroute would apply only to those who are not included in the contract? Whether a person who enters into a contract with the Contract Carriage operator can demand that a particular passenger or named passengers, who are included as passengers in the contract, shall be picked up or set down enroute the journey? 34. Before answering the afore questions, one should consider the fact whether those who are travelling in a Contract Carriage shall share a common purpose. 34. Before answering the afore questions, one should consider the fact whether those who are travelling in a Contract Carriage shall share a common purpose. State of Andhra Pradesh and others v. B. Noorulla Khan and others, (2004) 6 SCC 194 was a case where a Division Bench of the Hon’ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh took a view that common purpose means that the passengers travelling together need to have the common intention to travel to a common destination, but they need not share the common intention of travelling for the same purpose as well. The Hon’ble Apex Court in B. Noorulla Khan (supra) held that the view taken by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh runs counter to the law laid down by the Apex Court in Brijendra Kumar Chaudhary and another (supra) and Nirmala Jagdish Chandra Kabra v. Transport Commissioner and others, (1997) 9 SCC 227 . The Hon’ble Apex Court held that Passengers travelling in a Contract Carriage under a contract should not only have the intention of travelling to the same destination, but should also have the common purpose of travelling as well. 35. Section 2(7) which defines Contract Carriage states that the journey of Contract Carriage should be without stopping to pick up or set down passengers not included in the contract anywhere during the journey. The words “passengers not included in the contract’ would indicate that as far as those passengers who are included in the contract are concerned, they can be picked up enroute and set down at the common destination, and if it is a return journey, they can be picked up from the common destination point and set down enroute during return journey. 36. In Roshanlal Gautam (supra), the Apex Court held that the distinction between a Contact Carriage and Stage Carriage is that the Contract Carriage is engaged for the whole of the journey between two points for carriage of a person or persons hiring it, but it has no right to pick up other passengers, enroute. 37. In the judgment in Brijendra Kumar Chaudhary (supra), the Apex Court again held that a Contract Carriage is engaged for the whole of the journey between two points for carriage of a person or persons hiring it, but it has no right to pick up other passengers enroute. (Emphasis supplied). 38. 37. In the judgment in Brijendra Kumar Chaudhary (supra), the Apex Court again held that a Contract Carriage is engaged for the whole of the journey between two points for carriage of a person or persons hiring it, but it has no right to pick up other passengers enroute. (Emphasis supplied). 38. It is obvious from Section 2(7) and the judgments of the Hon’ble Apex Court that in the case of a Contract Carriage, persons who are included in the contract can be picked up and set down enroute, provided the destination/s and purpose of journey of all those who are included in the contract is one and the same. A Tourist Vehicle having registration under the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023 being a Contract Carriage as per Section 2(43), the aforesaid conditions will apply to Tourist Vehicles also. 39. In the case of a Stage Carriage, a passenger enters into a contract of adhesion, the moment he enters the bus at any stage of the Stage Carriage journey and buys a ticket. Contract Carriages and Tourist Vehicles, on the other hand, run on the basis of prior contracts entered into by a person or group of persons with the Contract Carriage/ Tourist Vehicle Operator. This is evident from Section 2(7) and Section 2(43) of the Motor Vehicles Act. Section 2(7) contemplates that there should be a prior contract and the Contract should have passengers mentioned therein. 40. Rule 10 of the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023 provides that the vehicles plying as All India Tourist Permit, shall at all times carry a list of tourists in electronic form or in physical form, which shall contain the details of origin and the destination of each tourist. The Vehicles plying with All India Tourist Permit, should therefore have a list of passengers with details of each passenger as regards origin and the destination of each tourist. Necessarily, the list should be available before the start of each journey. Then there is no question of picking up or setting down any other passenger enroute. 41. The writ petitioners, who are Tourist Vehicle permit holders, would argue that Rule 6(2) of the Rules, 2023 allows transportation of tourists “individually” or “in a group” implying that Tourist Vehicle operators can enter into multiple contracts with different individuals for the same trip/journey. Then there is no question of picking up or setting down any other passenger enroute. 41. The writ petitioners, who are Tourist Vehicle permit holders, would argue that Rule 6(2) of the Rules, 2023 allows transportation of tourists “individually” or “in a group” implying that Tourist Vehicle operators can enter into multiple contracts with different individuals for the same trip/journey. The argument would fall down on a closer scrutiny of the legal provisions. 42. The Rules, 2023 are framed to issue All India Permits to Tourist Vehicles. Such permits can be granted to Contract Carriages including smaller vehicles with passenger capacity of less than five, where individual travel can be opted and a tourist can travel “individually”. As far as larger vehicles like buses, the travel can still be “individually” or “in a Group”. But, there cannot be multiple contracts with more than one individual nor there can be contracts with more than one Group. Rule 6 contemplates transportation of tourists individually or in “a group”. Either way, there cannot be multiple contracts for one journey, as the Apex Court has held in B. Noorulla Khan (supra) that Passengers travelling in a Contract Carriage under a contract should not only have the intention of travelling to the same destination, but should also have the common purpose of travelling as well. The said ratio will apply to All India Tourist Permit Vehicle also. 43. The KSRTC has a further case that in view of Chapter VI of the Motor Vehicles Act, the Government can completely or partially exclude all other operators in notified areas/routes. In view of Section 104, where the Government has framed a Scheme with respect to any notified area or notified route, there is complete exclusion of operation of any other services through the notified area or the route other than as permitted under the Scheme. Therefore, Tourist Vehicles cannot be permitted to operate through nationalised routes, contends the Standing Counsel representing the KSRTC. It is true that as per Section 99 of the Motor Vehicles Act, in public interest, a State Government can formulate Scheme to exclude completely or partially private operators in any area or route. But, the KSRTC has no case that there exists any such Scheme whereunder operation of Tourist Vehicles is totally excluded. Therefore, the said legal ground urged by the KSRTC need not be answered in these writ petitions. 44. But, the KSRTC has no case that there exists any such Scheme whereunder operation of Tourist Vehicles is totally excluded. Therefore, the said legal ground urged by the KSRTC need not be answered in these writ petitions. 44. From the afore discussions and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023, the following propositions emerge: (i) A Tourist Vehicle being a Contract Carriage, for transporting passengers there should be a prior contract by a passenger or a group of passengers for that carriage to be used as a whole, for a fixed or agreed sum. (ii) A Tourist Vehicle Operator cannot enter into multiple contracts with more than one person or Group of persons. The persons travelling should not only have the intention of travelling to the same destination but should also have the common purpose of travelling as well. (iii) A Tourist Vehicle plying under an All India Tourist Permit shall at all time carry a list of tourists in electronic form or in physical form, which shall contain the details of origin and destination of each tourist. Such list should be ready and complete before the Vehicle starts its journey under a contract. (iv) A Tourist Vehicle Operator does not have a right to stop the Vehicle to pick up or drop off passengers not included in the contract, enroute a journey. In other words, a Tourist Vehicle cannot run its service like a Stage Carriage. 45. Based on the afore conclusions, the writ petitions are disposed of with the following orders/directions: (i) Circular No. B1/31/2023/Trans dated 06.06.2023 of the Secretary, Department of Transports, Government of Kerala is legal and valid and is not liable to be set aside on the grounds urged by those writ petitioners, who are Tourist Vehicle Operators. (ii) The action taken by the Motor Vehicles Department including interception of vehicles, issuance of challans and seizure of vehicles for violation of permit conditions are declared as prima facie justified. (iii) W.P. (C) Nos. 19537, 37551, 37980, 38261, 39289 and 42719 of 2023 and 4555 of 2024 are dismissed. (iv) W.P. (C) Nos. 32419 and 38410 of 2023 are disposed of in view of the findings, orders and directions contained in this judgment.