High Court Bans Tax Collection on Highways in Parsa

Parsa. The High Court Janakpur, Birgunj Temporary Bench, has issued an order prohibiting the collection of taxes from vehicles plying on national highways, feeder roads, and postal highways in Parsa.

A division bench of judges Arjun Adhikari and Durga Prasad Dhungel at the High Court Janakpur, Birgunj Temporary Bench, issued the order on Friday. Citing an interim order issued by the Supreme Court on 2082 Falgun 28 against the Birgunj Metropolitan City, the court ruled that while taxes cannot be collected on national, feeder, and postal highways, the municipality may continue to collect taxes on roads under its jurisdiction.

‘The interim order issued by this court on 2083 Baishakh 4, directing not to obstruct the petitioner from collecting taxes subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement dated 2082 Saun 30, has been amended to that extent and continued,’’ the court order stated. Prabhu Construction had been collecting vehicle management taxes on Birgunj Metropolitan City's highways and feeder roads under a contract. Buddhi Prasad Pant (Hari), a member of the House of Representatives from Parsa Constituency No. 1, expressed satisfaction with the High Court's injunction, which prevents local levels from inviting tenders to collect vehicle and scrap taxes on national, feeder, and postal highways. “Taxes were being collected illegally from cargo vehicles by setting up checkpoints,” he said, “We hope that with the court's order, this will stop.”