Spell out parking norms, Hyderabad HC to Telangana

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday directed the Telangana state government to spell out what steps it is taking to formulate guidelines for collecting parking charges from visitors at hospitals, court complexes and other public places.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranga-nathan and Justice G. Shyam Prasad was dealing with a PIL by R. Giri Kumar, an advocate from Nalgonda, seeking to direct the state government to take immediate action against collection of illegal parking fees in hospital premises and court complexes.

T. Rajanikanth Reddy, counsel for the petitioner, submitted that private individuals are looting vehicle owners at hospitals, court complexes and other public places by collecting hourly parking charges.

At the regional passport  office and its seva centre, the parking fee charged is very huge, that is Rs 100 per hour, he said.

The bench enquired with the counsel for the government about any rules or guidelines in force to regulate the parking fee.

Since no rules or guidelines are in force in this regard, the bench directed the government to explain the steps being taken to formulate the guidelines.
While adjourning the hearing, the bench directed that this PIL be heard along with another PIL pending before it seeking to direct the state government and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to introduce a comprehensive policy for collection of parking fees in commercial complexes, cinema halls and bus stations.