- Delhi HC said the representation by the authorities should be disposed of within four weeks as per law.
The Delhi High Court has asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to decide on a representation raising the issue of alleged unfair toll fee collection and establishment of toll plazas on highways across the country.
A bench of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was hearing a PIL on September 25 when it disposed of the plea, allowing the petitioner to file a comprehensive representation with the NHAI within two weeks.
The court said that the representations should be disposed of by the authorities within four weeks as per law.
Petitioner Anand Mishra, an advocate, said that as per the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, NHAI is clearly barred from collecting toll on the semi-constructed portion of the highway and toll fee plazas cannot be established. Can be done. 60 kilometers.
“The respondent (NHAI) has and is still collecting undue wealth by charging unreasonable toll from passengers on the highways,” the plea said.
Therefore, the petitioner sought to direct NHAI to comply with Rules 3(2) and 8(2) of the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 with immediate effect throughout India.
The petition sought a direction to the court to conduct a survey and form a committee to calculate the amount of toll fee collected so far by NHAI by allegedly violating these rules and ensure that the amount collected is The amount spent should be returned immediately.
Rule 3(2) provides for commencement of collection of fee within 45 days from the date of completion of the section of National Highway, permanent bridge, bypass or tunnel, as the case may be, constructed through a publicly funded project .
On the other hand, Rule 8(2) states that no other toll plaza shall be established on the same stretch of the National Highway and within 60 kilometers in the same direction.
The petitioner had informed the court about giving a representation to the authorities in August but it was not acted upon.
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First publication date: 13 October 2024, 09:45 AM IST