ARJUN RAJU KHANAPURE Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Co-founder of Microsoft and Computer Programmer, Bill Gates has remarked- The advance of technology is based on making it fit in, so that you don't really even notice it, so it's part of everyday life.

(2.) The present Public Interest Litigation ('PIL') raised a challenge to the Circulars dtd. 12/02/2021 and 14/02/2021 issued by the National Highways Authority of India, under the directions of Union of India, whereby commuters without FASTag are mandatorily required to pay double the toll fees instead of the actual toll fees, by way of penalty from 15/02/2021. It is the contention raised that conversion of cash lanes into FASTag-exclusive lanes is illegal, arbitrary and violative of due process of law. The Petition, therefore, seek quashing of these circulars and seeks a directive to keep at least one lane as a hybrid lane to allow cash payments or any other modes to the commuters to pay the toll fees.

(3.) We have heard learned counsel Dr.Uday Warunjikar for the Petitioner, Mr.R.V.Govilkar, senior counsel with Mr.D.P.Singh for the Union of India and Dr.Birendra Saraf, the learned Advocate General alongwith Mr.Vaibhav Charalwar for the Respondent No.2. Respondent No.3 is represented by Mr.Sahil Mate.