Delhi bus owners seek exemption from road tax, penalty

The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi Government to treat a plea as a representation filed by the Delhi Contract Bus Association seeking exemption from payment of road tax and levy of penalty post-December 2020, in view of the Covid-19 pandemic which has caused severe losses to their business operation. (Delhi Contract Bus Association Vs Honble Lt. Governor & Ors.)

A Single-Judge bench of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva has asked the counsel appearing for the respondent GNCTD to take a decision preferably within six weeks. 

The court has also said that in case there is a direction of the Government to reopen schools/educational institutions, respondent shall consider issuing appropriate interim directions, pending consideration of the representation.

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that it is an association of commercial bus owners catering primarily to schools, colleges and educational institutions for transportation of students and staff of the said institutions as well as to office-goers of MNCs and industrial establishments.

“In view of the lockdown, closure of schools and work from home culture, petitioners have not been able to ply their buses and the buses are lying stationary. It is, in these circumstances, that petitioners seek exemptions from payment of road taxes and penalty as also refund/ adjustment of the amount already paid by some bus operators,”

-it said. 

The Counsel for the respondent had submitted that a decision has already been taken to grant exemption from payment of penalty till 31.12.2020. He further submitted that in a similar writ petition filed by another association, this Court had directed the petition to be considered as a representation.

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The petitioners were seeking exemption from payment of road tax and levy of penalty even post 31.12.2020 as the schools and educational institutions have not yet been reopened and some of the offices have still not commenced full operations.

Read the order here;