Taxing non-K'taka vehicles: HC seeks govt objections

The High Court on Friday gave the State government two weeks to file objections to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition that has challenged the imposition of lifetime tax on non-Karnataka vehicles that ply in the State for more than 30 days.

During the hearing, a division bench of acting Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and B V Nagarathna asked the Advocate General (AG) what if a person wished to stay in Karnataka for 35 days at a stretch and what if he/she returned.

The AG replied that person would have to pay lifetime tax again and apply for refund again. The bench responded that the 30-day cap appeared to violate Articles 301 and 302 of the Constitution of India, which guarantee freedom of movement. V Balamuruganathan and five others from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala have challenged the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Act, 1972, which imposes heavy taxes on vehicles registered outside Karnataka and plying in the State.