NHAI moves Supreme Court against HC order halting toll collection at Paliyekkara

NEW DELHI: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Kerala High Court’s order to stop toll collection at Paliyekkara in Thrissur. The Authority has sought to cancel the interim order issued by the High Court, which had suspended toll collection for four weeks. The order to stop toll collection was issued on Wednesday.

Earlier, anticipating the possibility of an appeal, petitioner Shaji Kodankandath, who had filed the case in the High Court, submitted an interim petition requesting that no decision be taken on any appeal by the contract company or the NHAI without hearing his arguments.

The High Court had suspended toll collection at Paliyekkara for four weeks, pointing out that the NHAI had failed to resolve traffic congestion on the national highway. The division bench of Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Harisankar V. Menon instructed that this issue must be addressed within the given time. The court noted that despite being given time since February, the Authority had not taken action to solve the problem. Until such measures are implemented, toll collection must remain suspended, the court said.

The order stressed that toll fees are meant to ensure smooth traffic flow, and when that fails, neither the NHAI nor the contractors have the right to collect tolls. It also pointed out that paying tolls is a legal obligation for road users. The court further directed that the decisions taken at the meeting held on July 17 under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary must be implemented within four weeks.