Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 13: On Friday March 12, the state high court dismissed a petition that had questioned the validity of the government's move to make FASTag compulsory on highways. Advocate Geetha Mishra, had filed this public interest litigation. After hearing the arguments, the bench comprising Chief Justice A S Oka and Justice S Vishwajit Shetty ordered quashing of the litigation.

The bench observed that the government is vested with powers under section 41 of Central Motor Vehicles Act 1989 to frame rules to facilitate smooth movement of vehicles. Therefore the bench said that the arguments of the petitioner that the centre lacks power to frame such rules cannot be upheld.

The judges also observed that the petitioner had argued that FASTag interferes with the privacy of individuals. But there is no relationship between these things and it has nothing to do with the privacy of individuals, the bench observed. It also clarified that the fundamental rights given under chapter 21 of the constitution have not been violated. "There are no legal lacunae in the points raised by the petitioners. The government's move in making FASTag compulsory under the Motor Vehicles Act is found to be in order and hence this petition is being dismissed, the bench said.