COVID-19: HC dismisses PIL against toll fee during lockdown
Team Udayavani, Apr 27, 2020, 8:42 PM IST
Chennai: The Madras High Court on Monday dismissed a PIL seeking to forbear collection of toll charges from road users till the COVID-19 lockdown is lifted.
Pointing to an earlier order of it which had held the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was bound to maintain toll roads to facilitate the smooth and safe movement of traffic, the court said the prayer for blanket order against the collection of toll cannot be granted.
A bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice M Nirmal Kumar, however, gave liberty to the public interest litigation petitioner V Munikrishnanto submit a detailed representation seeking the relief to the NHAI if advised and permissible under law.
Citing the loss suffered by farmers and others due to the lockdown, the petitioner said levying toll charges amounted to adding salt to the wound.
Earlier, Assistant Solicitor General G. Karthikeyan submitted levy of toll was having a statutory backing in the form of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
Meanwhile, another PIL has been filed in the court seeking a direction to the authorities to keep open home appliances shops and service centers for specific timings during the lockdown.
Many healthcare facilities and thousands of households were in urgent need of maintenance and repair of home appliances which have become life-essential products, the petition said.
It is likely to come up for hearing later this week.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Delhi LG praises CM Atishi, calls her ‘thousand times better than her predecessor’
Kharge confident of Cong and allies coming to power in Maharashtra, Jharkhand
‘Nation First’ key to India’s progress, says President Murmu
Priyanka joining forces with Rahul in Parliament will give ‘sleepless nights’ to BJP: Pilot
Man declared dead wakes up before cremation, 3 doctors suspended in Rajasthan
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Delhi LG praises CM Atishi, calls her ‘thousand times better than her predecessor’
Centre releases 15th Finance Commission grant for rural local bodies in Karnataka
Kharge confident of Cong and allies coming to power in Maharashtra, Jharkhand
‘Nation First’ key to India’s progress, says President Murmu
Karnataka BJP chief Vijayendra slams Cong govt over Waqf notices to farmers, fund crunch
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.