Representative image of cars on display at a showroom.
Credit: Reuters Photo
Belagavi: Amid opposition from the BJP, the Karnataka Assembly on Tuesday passed a Bill to levy an additional cess of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 on private two-wheelers and cars at the time of registration.
The Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation (Second Amendment) Bill was passed on a voice vote despite the ‘nays’ being louder.
A section of BJP lawmakers were keen on defeating the Bill as the treasury benches were severely outnumbered.
However, Speaker UT Khader did not put the Bill for a vote.
Piloting the Bill, Law Minister HK Patil said the additional cess will be used for the Karnataka Motor Transport and other Allied Workers Social Security and Welfare Fund, which caters to bus, cab and auto-rickshaw drivers.
“Citizens are already burdened. The government earlier hiked taxes on fuel. Why are you levying an additional cess on vehicles? Don't burden citizens anymore,” Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said.
Former Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan demanded the government to provide a matching grant for the cess that will be collected.
Code of Civil Procedure amendment
The Assembly also passed Code of Civil Procedure (Karnataka Amendment) Bill for speedy justice in civil cases.
"In civil cases, we won't know when our cases will get over. It could take 10-20 years. In commercial courts, the time schedule is clear. So, like it is in commercial courts, civil disputes must be disposed of," Law Minister HK Patil said, piloting the Bill.
Patil said there are 9.85 lakh pending civil disputes in Karnataka. "There are 1.19 lakh cases pending for over 10 years," he said.
The Bill proposes "expeditious disposal of civil cases, improve the efficiency and reduce delays in disposal of civil cases and thereby provide speedy justice".