Karnataka HC ushers new laws for non-registered vehicles
Karnataka High Court declared the 2014 order that forced vehicle owners to pay lifetime tax if they used vehicles not registered in Karnataka beyond 30 days as 'unconstitutional'. The non-Karnataka registered vehicles can be used without paying tax in the state for 12 months. However, such vehicles will have to be re-registered in Karnataka and lifetime tax paid if used beyond 12 months.
Karnataka amends the CMV Act 1988
Under the CMV Act 1988, any vehicle being used continuously in another state needed to be registered in 12 months. On 28 February 2014, the Karnataka government changed the Motor vehicle taxation, bringing in the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Act 2014. This meant that non-Karnataka registered vehicles in Karnataka for over 30 days would pay a lifetime tax levied by the state government.
New law to be challenged in HC
Waseem Memon who started a campaign against the decision to impose lifetime tax on non-Karnataka vehicles said that S Ramasubramaniam and six others will challenge the decision in the Karnataka High Court. He said that the amendment was 'illegal' and went against the Central Motor Vehicles Act as Karnataka government was infringing the fundamental rights by issuing altering rules.
Karnataka seizes 150 non-Karnataka registered vehicles
The transport department carried out surprise checks on more than 3,000 non-Karnataka-registered vehicles. 150 were seized for having failed to pay lifetime road tax (LTT) to the state of Karnataka. Joint commissioner (transport) Narendra Holkar said 12 separate squads had been deployed for the checks. The seized vehicles included 57 buses and 78 cars with registration numbers belonging to other states.
'Drive without borders' campaign against Karnataka's taxation law
Supporters and advocates of "Drive without borders" campaign led a silent cycle rally to oppose against the RTO drives across the state and the motor vehicle taxation under the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Act 2014. Over 200 people took part in the rally. The protesters said that the amendment went against the federal nature of India's constitution and the right to move freely.
Rs.20 crores collected from 1000 seized cars
Since the implementation of the rule, the RTOs have held over 1,000 cars. Furthermore, a tax revenue of Rs.20 crore from vehicles registered outside the state has been collected.
