Owners of vehicles registered outside Karnataka, whose documents or vehicles were seized by the Transport Department, are now hopeful of getting them back in the coming week.
The high court had quashed an amendment to the State motor vehicle taxation laws. The amendment had made it mandatory for owners of vehicles registered outside Karnataka to pay road tax if they used their vehicles in the State for over 30 days. On July 1, a division bench of the HC had dismissed an appeal by the State government questioning the single judge order.
“Many people were waiting for a copy of the HC order before approaching the RTO. Maybe next week, they will try to get back their vehicles and documents from the RTO,” said Waseem Memon, a member of Drive Without Borders, the group that has been campaigning against the amendment. Central rules allow for vehicles to stay in any State for 12 months.
Several Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials had refused to release documents or vehicles after the single judge order citing the appeal. A few motorists managed to get their documents but after furnishing undertakings that they would pay the tax in case the appeal was upheld. Several others who had been forced to pay the tax are now hoping to claim refunds. “We paid up after officials stopped our vehicles, but we have been here less than four months and are unlikely to stay for more than 12 months. Hopefully, the RTO will process the refunds as well,” said Jijo Thomas from Kochi whose documents were seized in March.
The lucky one
One motorist managed to get her vehicle documents back even before copies of the order could be distributed.
“They had stopped my car near K.R. Puram in January this year. One policeman (RTO official) flagged us down and got into the car. We thought he wanted a lift, but he took us to a lay bye where several cars had been parked. They took our documents,” said Chitra Shiju, a homemaker who was travelling with her husband when their car was stopped.
Several attempts to recover the documents were in vain. But Chitra managed to get them a day after the judgment. “I went to the Indiranagar RTO the day after the order was passed. The officials were very polite and helpful, and immediately returned the documents. We were fined for not having a Pollution Under Control certificate, and that was it,” she said.
State yet to decide
on appeal?
The State is yet to decide if they will appeal the decision in a higher court. “We have to study the order in detail before taking the decision. We expect to get a copy of the order on Saturday. In the meantime, those who have not stayed in the State for more than 12 months can approach RTOs to get their documents back,” said Transport Commissioner Rame Gowda.
The number game
Total vehicles/documents seized: 4,000
Total road tax collected: Over Rs 50 crore
Who can claim tax refund?
Motorists who have paid road tax but will not be using their vehicles in the State for more than 12 months.
