Court throws out petition: Submit compliance report within 6 months, NHA chief told
A division bench of the Sindh High Court ordered the company officials to file the report to the MIT.
KARACHI:
A court disposed of a constitutional petition on Monday filed against the National Highway Authority (NHA) and ordered the chairman and general manager to submit a compliance report within six months.
A division bench of the Sindh High Court ordered the company officials to file the report to the Member Inspection Team (MIT). The compliance report pertains to provision of parking facilities for delinquent vehicles, loading and unloading of goods, their secure storage and other facilities in compliance with section 44 of National Highway Safety Ordinance 2000.
The petition was filed by owners of Rehman Brothers Goods Transport Company, who cited NHA chairperson, Sindh general manager, Motorway Police DIG and a private firm, Traffic and Road Assets Management, as respondents. The petitioner alleged that the private contracting firm is overcharging from goods transport vehicles that are overweight, is impounding them at will, etc. As per rules, only a police officer in uniform can impose a fine or challan on a vehicle hence the respondent firm is working beyond contract, the petitioner said. On Monday, the petitioner’s counsel stated that the petition became ‘infructuous ‘as the contract period of the respondent firm has expired and the weigh bridge was not in their possession now.
The counsel for respondent also admitted the same after which the bench disposed of the petition.
The bench noted, however, that NHA has not complied with the court order dated December 10, 2010, till now.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2011.
A court disposed of a constitutional petition on Monday filed against the National Highway Authority (NHA) and ordered the chairman and general manager to submit a compliance report within six months.
A division bench of the Sindh High Court ordered the company officials to file the report to the Member Inspection Team (MIT). The compliance report pertains to provision of parking facilities for delinquent vehicles, loading and unloading of goods, their secure storage and other facilities in compliance with section 44 of National Highway Safety Ordinance 2000.
The petition was filed by owners of Rehman Brothers Goods Transport Company, who cited NHA chairperson, Sindh general manager, Motorway Police DIG and a private firm, Traffic and Road Assets Management, as respondents. The petitioner alleged that the private contracting firm is overcharging from goods transport vehicles that are overweight, is impounding them at will, etc. As per rules, only a police officer in uniform can impose a fine or challan on a vehicle hence the respondent firm is working beyond contract, the petitioner said. On Monday, the petitioner’s counsel stated that the petition became ‘infructuous ‘as the contract period of the respondent firm has expired and the weigh bridge was not in their possession now.
The counsel for respondent also admitted the same after which the bench disposed of the petition.
The bench noted, however, that NHA has not complied with the court order dated December 10, 2010, till now.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2011.