Can Farmers Be Exempted From Paying Toll On Highways Amid Lockdown? Karnataka HC Asks NHAI

The Karnataka High Court has asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to inform the Court whether any concession can be made available to the farmers so far as the payment of toll during the lockdown situation is concerned.

The court gave the direction while hearing the plea filed by PUCL on the issue of rural distress caused due to the lockdown. The counsel for PUCL also pointed out several issues and submitted copies of the representations made by various bodies representing the farmers involved in agricultural, horticultural and floricultural operations.

"There are orders by the Government of India as well as the State Government permitting various operations by the farmers including transport of the produce and sale of the produce. From the submissions and from the documents produced, it appears there are several issues faced by the farmer", noted a bench comprising Chief Justice A S Oka and Justice B V Nagarathna.