The Dharwad-based Circuit Bench of the Karnataka High Court has passed an interim order granting stay against the decision of the Belgaum Cantonment Board (BCB) to levy licence fee on ‘commercial vehicles' passing through the cantonment area in the city.
The order has brought temporary relief from the alleged harassment and exploitation of the public, who were paying licence fee ranging from Rs. 10 to Rs. 20 for a private commercial vehicle passing through the cantonment area.
The BCB started levying the fee on February 15, against public opposition, even as many argued that the decision of the BCB was illegal. Subsequently, four writ petitions were filed before the Circuit Bench by Max Cab Owners, the Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and bus operators and tour operators from other States.
The court, after hearing the arguments, passed the interim order on March 21 and gave the BCB two weeks to file a statement of objections.
