After State's Assurance To Clear Dues, Madras High Court Keeps Order Restricting TNSTC Buses From Plying On Toll Plazas In Abeyance

The Madras High Court has kept in abeyance its order restricting buses belonging to the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation from passing through four toll plazas on the National Highway in Tamil Nadu over unpaid toll arrears. Justice Anand Venkatesh has kept the order in abeyance for two weeks following a request made by the State government. Additional Advocate General J Ravindran, on Thursday, assured the court that steps will be taken to settle all the arrears pending with the four toll plazas. The court noted the submission and said that it would keep the order in abeyance for two weeks and see if steps are taken to clear the arrears. On Tuesday, the court had taken the “extreme step” of restraining the buses from plying on the toll plazas. While the court said that it was aware of the consequences of such an order but it was necessary to “jolt” the officials, who would otherwise not take any effort to settle the dispute. The court added that the if the payments are kept on being delayed, it would escalate to astronomical proportions. Apprehending the law and order problem that would arise as a result of the direction, the court had also directed the Director General of Police to issue necessary instruction to the concerned jurisdictional police to prove sufficient police protection at the toll plazas. The court asked the police to ensure that no undue pressure is exerted on the Toll Plazas to permit the buses to ply through. The petitioner toll plazas had submitted that approximately Rs. 276 crore remained to be paid by the corporation, including the penalty and arrears. It was submitted that even excluding the penalty and interest, a sum of Rs. 113 crore was payable. The court had noted that the corporation had not taken any steps to settle the dues or come up with a viable solution. The court also highlighted that on previous occasions, the court has held that if the dues are not cleared, the buses could be stopped as the problem of road maintenance is interlinked with the failure of State enterprises to pay toll charges. Case Title: M/s.Madurai - Kanyakumari Tollway Private Limited and others v. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Case No: WP Nos.31006 of 2024

After State's Assurance To Clear Dues, Madras High Court Keeps Order Restricting TNSTC Buses From Plying On Toll Plazas In Abeyance

Upasana Sajeev

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