Supreme Court
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The Supreme Court said whether public transport can be used by political parties in rallies without paying? The top court made this comment during the hearing on the petition of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee challenging an order of Allahabad High Court.
The High Court had ordered the UP Congress Committee (UPCC) to pay dues of Rs 2.66 crore to the UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC). The Supreme Court did not put a stay on it and said that the stay on the order for recovery of dues would be subject to the condition of UPCC depositing Rs 1 crore within four weeks. When Congress was in power in UP between 1981 and 1989, it had used roadways buses and taxis in rallies and the bill has been outstanding since then.
Supreme Court will explore the possibility of appointing an arbitrator
Issuing notice on UPCC’s petition, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and KV Vishwanathan said it would explore the possibility of appointing an arbitrator to ascertain the actual liability of the petitioner. UPCC counsel Salman Khurshid said that even though the High Court had said that no recovery could be made under the 1972 Act, it held that the amount would have to be paid through discretionary powers.
On this, Justice Surya Kant asked, can political parties use public transport for rallies without paying. To this Khurshid replied ‘No’.
