Srinagar, Nov 10 ( KINS)The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court on Wednesday pulled up the Transport Department for demanding 9 percent token tax from the owners of vehicles purchased outside and had already registered outside the Union Territory in violation of the court order.
In a notice issued to government a double bench of High Court comprising of Justice Ali Mohammad Magray and Justice Sanjay Dhar asked the officials to adhere to an earlier court judgment in letter and spirit and directed them not to demand 9 percent token tax from the owners of the vehicles who have already paid at the time of registration from outside the UT.
A contempt petition was filed by Zahoor Ahmad Bhat alleging that the judgment passed by this court in April this year had quashed a circular by the Regional Transport Officer Kashmir asking the petitioners to have their vehicles registered for assignment of new registration mark without providing any mechanism.
The court had directed the Transport authorities to have the compliance of the Central Motor Vehicles undertaken for assignment of new registration mark of the vehicles.
The court left open options for the respondents to screen, scrutinize, verify, validity or genuineness of documents of any vehicles entering in Union Territory of J&K from outside, having outside registration.
The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the respondents are demanding 9 percent token tax from the owners of the vehicles, who have applied for assignment of new registration mark in the UT of J&K despite their vehicles are duly registered outside J&K and have already paid life time tax on those vehicles against the judgment and order.
The court observed the submissions had prima facie substance and had directed respondents to file their response within one month of time but till date, no response has been filed and the violation to the extent continues.
The court asked respondents to adhere to the judgment in letter and spirit and there shall be no demand made of 9 percent token tax from the owners of the vehicles who have already paid the tax at the time of registration from outside the UT. Besides, a response shall be filed within three weeks failing which all the respondents shall appear in person, the court directed.(KINS)
