Karnataka: RTOs not returning non-state vehicles

Bengaluru: After the Karnataka High Court declared as unconstitutional the law that forced owners of vehicles registered outside Karnataka to pay ‘lifetime tax’ in the state for plying over a month here, many from neighbouring states came to collect their documents and vehicles which had been  impounded by the RTO during their drives.

However, to their disappointment, they came back empty-handed from RTO offices and have been running from pillar to post armed with the certified copy of the High Court Judgment as well as the letter issued by the Transport Commissioner's office to release all the cars.

Meanwhile, the RTO officials, especially those from Devanahalli, Yelahanka and Yeshwantpur, told them that they did not receive any communication from their superiors on the matter and are awaiting orders. A couple of RTO officials wanted people to give a “Notarized Affidavit” stating that if the judgement is revoked in the appeal or by the apex court, they will have to voluntarily pay up.

Soniya Sunil had to run behind the RTO with the judgement copy to get his vehicle documents back. He narrates, “My vehicle was seized by RTO on March 10, 2016 at Mekhri Circle by the Yelahanka RTO. After checking the documents,  they asked me for how long the car had been in Karnataka. I told them it was here for the last 6 months. They seized the vehicle and documents, saying the car had been here for more than 30 days and I was liable to pay LTT. On the same day, the High Court order came, quashing the LTT rule. The next day, I went to Yelahanka RTO office and was told by the RTO (Mr Hemant Kumar) to meet them on March 16  as they were unsure about the judgment. On 16th  I went to the RTO again. He asked me to pay the tax to get the vehicle. I mentioned about the judgment and gave them a copy of the judgment. Upon seeing it, they asked me to come back and meet them after 10-15 days, to give them time to obtain instructions about this order from their higher officials.”