Thiruvananthapuram: As interstate private buses running in Kerala are under scrutiny after the shocking attack on a few passengers by the crew of Kallada chain, it has emerged that the Kerala Motor Vehicles Department is likely lax in collecting road tax from this transporter in the dock. It has also been found that the department has ignored speed violation norms by the drivers of such buses even though their licences could be cancelled as per the current rules.
The buses operated by the Suresh Kallada group are registered in Karnataka. However, its management owes Kerala government road tax dues of Rs 90 lakh.
Though the high court has already rejected Suresh’s appeal against higher tax, the amount has not yet been collected by the officials even after the Motor Vehicles Department had instructed Suresh to settle it.
Owing to the spotlight on Kallada buses after last week's brawl inside one of the vehicles, the higher officials of the department are now set to collect the tax dues from Suresh.
Litigation over road tax
As per a 2014 rule, the road tax for the interstate tourist buses entering Kerala would be increased every three months. Suresh Kallada had appealed against this rule in the Kerala High Court. Though the court issued a stay on the rule initially, it later ratified the decision of the state government. It was then found out that Suresh Kallada hadn’t paid the tax dues during the period since the case was in the court.
As per official records, he is required to pay Rs 90,25,200 as road tax for operating services to Kerala using 9 buses that are registered in Karnataka. Transport commissioner Sudhesh Kumar said that the laws in the state would be strictly executed.
In 2016, the Kerala government had unified the road taxes by withdrawing the decision to increase the taxes. However, the Advocate General had instructed to collect the tax dues from Suresh Kallda as his appeal was rejected by the High Court.