[NPV]

Update on the Public Interest Litigation:

The Karnataka High Court has sought a response from NHAI as to why non-commercial vehicles, including those belonging to advocates and farmers, should not be made exempt from paying toll on highways. The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Karnataka State Advocates' Association Federation and the Advocates' Association Bengaluru.

Source:New Indian Express, Bangalore edition 21 Nov 2018 - Link

[arvind71181]

Originally Posted by NPV

Update on the Public Interest Litigation:
Source:New Indian Express, Bangalore edition 21 Nov 2018 - Link

Hope IT services employees come under this too

Not sure why the court is even entertaining this? Or is this how the government machinery moves?

Edit: I thought it was more about the public servants being exempt, not sure if it extends to private sector employees, anyway, lets wait and watch...

[NPV]

Originally Posted by arvind71181

Hope IT services employees come under this too

Not sure why the court is even entertaining this? Or is this how the government machinery moves?

I think the issue is moving towards bringing in a more generic exemption now if you read the article - the court is asking why should any non-commercial vehicle pay toll ? So regardless of private vehicle being owned by a lawyer, farmer or IT services employee, it should be exempt from toll. Let's see how this moves now.

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by NPV

Update on the Public Interest Litigation

Thanks for the update.

The High Court's decision in seeking a response from NHAI is an interesting step. One would have been justified expecting the PIL to be dismissed with costs and termed frivolous. Glad the issue has been kept alive.

Also, the Indian Express answers an hitherto unclear question: "Why this PIL, all of a sudden?".

The petitioners said that courts have been established at the taluk and district levels, and there are three benches of high courts -- in Bengaluru, Dharwad and Kalaburagi. These three are well connected by national highways.

It must be the commute from Bengaluru to Dharward and Kalaburgi benches of the Karnataka High Court (that the lawyers need to be present at, mostly travelling by their cars) which has prompted this application. In a way, since the instruments of law are travelling on duty, the court could indeed see some merit in the matter.

I have also started to believe that the lawyers' selfish motives could for once result in at least a marginal improvement in the toll system. The following words lend credence to this belief.

"Privatisation of roads is an unreasonable step. Providing infrastructure is a basic duty, which cannot be privatised and taxed upon the citizens despite collecting 8 per cent infrastructure cess per litre of diesel or petrol under the provisions of the Central Road Cess Fund Act, 2000. The amount would be running into lakhs of crores of rupees for all this time," the petitioners said

Link

[sgiitk]

Why not. Can we not have a simpler mechanism. Everybody pays (maybe excluding police on duty and ambulances), and then those who can should get reimbursed. This business of exemption for every Tom, Dick & Harry for almost no reason.

[binand]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

Why not. Can we not have a simpler mechanism. Everybody pays (maybe excluding police on duty and ambulances), and then those who can should get reimbursed. This business of exemption for every Tom, Dick & Harry for almost no reason.

Is it "every Tom, Dick & Harry"? The full exemption list is here:

http://tis.nhai.gov.in/Admin/Exempte...41516Trasi.pdf

I suppose it can be pared a bit (why MLAs and MPs outside of their own constituencies? Should state-level people like ministers and judges have the exemption outside of their state?); but it seems to be small enough.

The lawyers' argument is risible, though.

[sgiitk]

@binand; It is the freebie culture which has to be smashed. Why exemption of judges, etc.? When on official trips they can claim it back. Also, why are MPs/MLAs the 'chosen ones'. If on official trips then will get reimbursed, otherwise let them pay. In UP the entourage also expects exemption from tolls.

[binand]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

@binand; It is the freebie culture which has to be smashed. Why exemption of judges, etc.? When on official trips they can claim it back. Also, why are MPs/MLAs the 'chosen ones'.

If it can be claimed back then it is still a freebie, no? This whole reimbursement business is such a pain to handle (I go through it a lot). I'm fine with exemptions, but the list has to be small and to the point.

MPs and MLAs are expected to be at every corner of their respective constituencies, dealing with peoples' issues, btw.

An idea would be to use the fastag network (when it is ready!).

[Su-47]

There is an element of pride, or rather assuaging one's ego - satisfaction derived from being in an elite group of haves which doesn't need to pay for something that everyone else needs to. How else does one explain a guy driving 40L SUV haggling with the toll plaza operator, showing different papers to prove he's a VIP, and wasting 5 mins of his time for a princely sum of 50 Rs.?


IMHO, the desire to be recognized as VIP - having arrived in life, is the primary driving factor behind such demands of exemptions.

[shankar.balan]

This goddamned VIP culture has to STOP!
A lawyer earns tons of money. Why do they need exemptions of this kind?
Greedy, unscrupulous creepy crawlies! Same as the politicos and other demons.

[condor]

i saw a small insert in a Kannada news-paper today that these .... have actually got a waiver !!!

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by condor

i saw a small insert in a Kannada news-paper today that these .... have actually got a waiver !!!

Could you please find and post the photograph or link of the news item. Would give the thread a proper closure.

[Klub Class]

Originally Posted by condor

have actually got a waiver !!!

Fake news, ignore



Link to the tweet : https://twitter.com/NHAISocialmedia/...713866758?s=19



Link to the tweet : https://twitter.com/PIB_India/status...47292253720581

[condor]

Originally Posted by dailydriver

Could you please find and post the photograph or link of the news item.

Vijaya Vani, page 2, at the bottom. I checked again, and it goes on to say that Nitin Gadkari has accepted the demand and lawyers can go to the bar council and get a letter to claim the exemption.

Originally Posted by Klub Class

Fake news, ignore

They have a ridiculous demand there.

[somspaple]

Originally Posted by condor

Vijaya Vani, page 2, at the bottom. I checked again, and it goes on to say that Nitin Gadkari has accepted the demand and lawyers can go to the bar council and get a letter to claim the exemption.
.

Indeed.. here is a screen grab [it is in Kannada]: