Reiterating the settled legal position that toll fees are not a source of revenue for the state but are compensatory in nature and is collected to reimburse the amount spent on construction of roads, a division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice M Nirmal Kumar issued dismissed a PIL
CITYCourt: Can’t stop toll collection on national highways across Tamil Nadu
TNN | Updated: Apr 28, 2020, 06:47 IST
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A PIL said no toll should be collected during the extended lockdown period, which the HC dismissedCHENNAI: The Madras high court has dismissed a PIL to restrain the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) from collecting toll across the state during Covid-19 lockdown.REMOVE ADS
Senda PIL filed by V Munikrishnan.
The PIL petitioner, who is into agricultural operations, said that on account of the nationwide lockdown, the NHAI took a fair decision to stop toll collection for 21 days, which has now been further extended till May 3. However, taking advantage of the announcement made by the government to lift certain restrictions from April 20, particularly for free movement of essential commodities, NHAI has started levying toll once again, that too at an increased rate, he said.
“On account of the hike in collection of toll fee, prices of essential items have increased,” his counsel E Sathiyaraj said.
Opposing the plea, assistant solicitor-general G Karthikeyan submitted that since the levy of toll is having a statutory backing in the form of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, it is open to NHAI to collect toll.
The nature of the fee casts a corresponding obligation upon the NHAI to maintain roads properly and ensure free flow of traffic, he added.
Recording the submission, the bench relied on a division bench order of the court and said it had been a well settled legal position that collection of toll could not be construed as source of revenue for the state.
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CITYYou will have to queue up to get on to trains at Egmore, Central
TNN | Updated: Apr 28, 2020, 06:46 IST
CITYCourt: Can’t stop toll collection on national highways across Tamil Nadu
TNN | Updated: Apr 28, 2020, 06:47 IST
+1
AA
1
A PIL said no toll should be collected during the extended lockdown period, which the HC dismissedCHENNAI: The Madras high court has dismissed a PIL to restrain the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) from collecting toll across the state during Covid-19 lockdown.REMOVE ADS
Reiterating the settled legal position that toll fees are not a source of revenue for the state but are compensatory in nature and is collected to reimburse the amount spent on construction of roads, a division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice M Nirmal Kumar issued dismissed a PIL filed by V Munikrishnan.
The PIL petitioner, who is into agricultural operations, said that on account of the nationwide lockdown, the NHAI took a fair decision to stop toll collection for 21 days, which has now been further extended till May 3. However, taking advantage of the announcement made by the government to lift certain restrictions from April 20, particularly for free movement of essential commodities, NHAI has started levying toll once again, that too at an increased rate, he said.
“On account of the hike in collection of toll fee, prices of essential items have increased,” his counsel E Sathiyaraj said.
Opposing the plea, assistant solicitor-general G Karthikeyan submitted that since the levy of toll is having a statutory backing in the form of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, it is open to NHAI to collect toll.
The nature of the fee casts a corresponding obligation upon the NHAI to maintain roads properly and ensure free flow of traffic, he added.
Recording the submission, the bench relied on a division bench order of the court and said it had been a well settled legal position that collection of toll could not be construed as source of revenue for the state.
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CITYYou will have to queue up to get on to trains at Egmore, Central
TNN | Updated: Apr 28, 2020, 06:46 IST
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Markings to maintain social distancing at Egmore railway stationCHENNAI: In just more than a week, when the lockdown is expected to be lifted and train services likely to resume, people will have to reach stations early and continue to maintain socialdistancings.REMOVE ADS
In Chennai, Southern Railway has begun pasting stickers on the floor in front of ticket counters and on platforms at MGR Central and Egmore to specify spots for people to stand farther from one another to prevent crowdings.
The authorities are not sure about when the trains can start in a full-fledged manner, but have begun making preparations at the various stations to ensure the rules are not flouted.
At Egmore railway station, yellow stickers have been pasted in front of ticket counters. On the platforms, yellow and white lines are to ensure people will be able to stand in a queue to board the train. Similar work is going on at MGR Central, said a senior railway official. “Stickers have been pasted on platform 3 and work is going on at other platforms. Social distancing will be a key precaution. There is also a discussion on posting staff at the exits to spray sanitizers on the hands of people who walk out of the railway stations,” he added.
For a long time, even before the lockdown began, Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel have been ensuring that people form a queue to board unreserved compartments of express trains at Egmore railway station as people were jostling to get in. A similar queue system is likely to be introduced for people to board reserved coaches if there is crowding.
Railway authorities are discussing ways to prevent crowding inside the two main railway stations. On a usual day, platforms of Central and Egmore railway stations are packed with hundreds of people waiting to board trains while the waiting area and concourse is crammed with several transit passengers waiting for connecting trains.
Now, all staff inside stations will wear masks and gloves.
Sources said it was unlikely that railways will start scheduled trains soon after lockdown is lifted. “There will be several passengers and visitors inside the stations at a time because scheduled trains depart and arrive back to back. In all probability, special trains will be introduced to begin with at staggered timings so that there will not be much people inside a station,” he added.
Officials are also thinking of ways to ensure social distancing inside coaches which may be a huge task as all berths on most trains have been sold out already for travel in May.
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Markings to maintain social distancing at Egmore railway stationCHENNAI: In just more than a week, when the lockdown is expected to be lifted and train services likely to resume, people will have to reach stations early and continue to maintain socialdistancings.REMOVE ADS
In Chennai, Southern Railway has begun pasting stickers on the floor in front of ticket counters and on platforms at MGR Central and Egmore to specify spots for people to stand farther from one another to prevent crowdings.
The authorities are not sure about when the trains can start in a full-fledged manner, but have begun making preparations at the various stations to ensure the rules are not flouted.
At Egmore railway station, yellow stickers have been pasted in front of ticket counters. On the platforms, yellow and white lines are to ensure people will be able to stand in a queue to board the train. Similar work is going on at MGR Central, said a senior railway official. “Stickers have been pasted on platform 3 and work is going on at other platforms. Social distancing will be a key precaution. There is also a discussion on posting staff at the exits to spray sanitizers on the hands of people who walk out of the railway stations,” he added.
For a long time, even before the lockdown began, Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel have been ensuring that people form a queue to board unreserved compartments of express trains at Egmore railway station as people were jostling to get in. A similar queue system is likely to be introduced for people to board reserved coaches if there is crowding.
Railway authorities are discussing ways to prevent crowding inside the two main railway stations. On a usual day, platforms of Central and Egmore railway stations are packed with hundreds of people waiting to board trains while the waiting area and concourse is crammed with several transit passengers waiting for connecting trains.
Now, all staff inside stations will wear masks and gloves.
Sources said it was unlikely that railways will start scheduled trains soon after lockdown is lifted. “There will be several passengers and visitors inside the stations at a time because scheduled trains depart and arrive back to back. In all probability, special trains will be introduced to begin with at staggered timings so that there will not be much people inside a station,” he added.
Officials are also thinking of ways to ensure social distancing inside coaches which may be a huge task as all berths on most trains have been sold out already for travel in May.
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The Times of India News App for Latest CityNews
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Start Your Daily Mornings with Times of India Newspaper! Order Now
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‘Most CMs want lockdown to continue’: Narayanasamy after interaction with PM’
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Open tthe stations and the result will be seen in fifteen days.Ess Vee
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CORONAVIRUSPANNEERSELVAMCORONAVIRUS INDIAMK STALINFLOODS IN CHENNAICHENNAI WEATHERCHENNAI RAINAIADMKDMKJALLIKATTU
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1
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MORE FROM OUR NETWORK
Tamil NewsTelugu NewsKannada NewsMalayalam NewsET MobileIndiatimesTimes JobsFolloGreetZapActive WorldMagicbricksAds 2 BookAstrospeakNavbharat TimesNewsPointGames AppMX PlayerTimesPointsLongwalks AppNewspaper SubscriptionColombia Ads and PublishingTimes Prime
TOP TRENDS
Coronavirus cases in IndiaTelangana Corona CasesCoronavirus updateCoronainvirus in India liveArvind KejriwalLockdown newsNarendra ModiLockdown in IndiaWork from Home JobsJEE Main 2020Kim Jong UnRBI Announcement TodayHarjeet Singh Punjab PoliceCovid 19 Guidelines IndiaFace Masks IndiaCoronavirus newsHoroscope todayStep by Step Pizza Recipe
About usTerms of UseDesktop version
Copyright © 2020 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service
