Petition Filed in Supreme Court Against Paliyekkara Toll Collection

New Delhi: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court of India challenging the Kerala High Court order that permitted the collection of toll at Paliyekkara. The petition was filed by a public activist.

The petitioner argues that the High Court order goes against the Supreme Court’s earlier judgement, which stated that toll cannot be collected without completing road works and ensuring smooth traffic movement.

According to the petition, several stretches of the national highway still remain unfit for smooth transportation, and therefore toll collection should not be allowed.

On October 17, the Kerala High Court granted permission to resume toll collection at Paliyekkara, lifting a 71-day ban. However, soon after toll collection restarted, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) allegedly stopped construction activities on the route.

The High Court had allowed toll collection based on the Central Government’s assurance that construction and repair works would progress properly.

Representing the Central Government, the Additional Solicitor General had informed the High Court that toll collection was necessary to continue repair and maintenance activities on other parts of the national highway. The argument was that without toll revenue, further works could not be carried out.

The petition alleges that after toll collection resumed, the construction company halted work, thereby betraying public trust. Earlier, highway authorities had stated that they could deploy more workers and complete construction faster.