The refusal to implement the High Court’s directive regarding toll collection on the Lakhanpur-Srinagar National Highway is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about administrative accountability. The court had clearly ordered that only 20% of the toll tax should be collected until the completion of ongoing construction work. However, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has blatantly disregarded this directive, continuing to charge full toll, which is both shocking and unacceptable. Had the judiciary stayed its own order, the stance taken by the authorities could have been understandable. However, since there has been no such stay, it is the clear duty of the responsible agencies to immediately implement the court’s ruling. Continuing to collect tolls at full rates, despite a binding judicial directive, is nothing short of defiance of the rule of law. The court specifically directed that only 20% of the toll be charged at the Lakhanpur and Bann toll plazas, both of which witness the movement of hundreds of vehicles daily. Despite this, the authorities continue to charge the full amount, imposing an unfair financial burden on commuters. This blatant non-compliance amounts to contempt of court, and as a result, a contempt petition has already been filed against the concerned authorities. What makes the matter even worse is that no corrective action has been taken so far. Shockingly, the district administration has remained silent on the issue, raising serious concerns about their role in enforcing judicial rulings. Who is responsible for ensuring the court’s orders are implemented? If lakhs of rupees are being unfairly collected every day, is this not outright exploitation? This issue has been raised multiple times, yet no serious effort has been made by the administration to rectify the situation. Such negligence leads to a crisis of governance and weakens public trust in institutions. It is imperative that the authorities act immediately to comply with the court’s directive. Toll collection must be reduced to 20% as ordered, and only after the completion of the highway’s construction should the full toll be reinstated. The government must ensure that judicial orders are upheld in a timely and transparent manner for the benefit of the public.
