Fastag fee taken in cash, fine of Rs 25000 imposed on NHAI, know the whole matter

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Madurai recently directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to pay compensation of Rs 25,000 to a user for collecting Fastag fees in cash. The Fastag system had failed to recognize the tag installed in his vehicle.

The commission, which is led by member P Shanmugapriya and chairman M Peeravi Perumal, also ordered NHAI to give the complainant an extra Rs 10,000.

Martin David, the vice principal of American College, is the petitioner. He was going through the Kappalur toll gate on his way to Sivakasi for some official business in September 2020. where his Fastag was not recognized by the system. According to Dinesh Kumar, David's attorney, the toll plaza employees made him pay with cash even though he had enough money in his Fastag account. mistreated them, and kept them waiting.

The petitioner encountered the same issue once more when leaving the same toll gate and traveling back to Madurai from Sivakasi. Nevertheless, he had reported this issue to the Fastag issuing bank's SBI helpline.

On this matter, NHAI said that the toll gate was maintained by a private organization for collecting toll tax. He also blamed SBI for the lack of service. NHAI also rejected the claim that toll plaza employees quarreled with the petitioner. Whereas SBI said that the problem was caused by the malfunction of NHAI's scanner and not by them.

After considering the arguments of the parties, Commission Chairman M Peeravi Perumal said that the petitioner had a valid and efficient Fastag with sufficient balance. The Commission cited the notification of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways that if the Fastag of a car is valid and functional. But if it is not detected by the scanners at the toll plaza, the vehicle owner does not have to pay any fee. In such cases, the vehicle owner is exempted from paying tolls. Vehicles can exit the plaza for free.

The Commission said, "In this case, the petitioner should have been let go without payment. However, the NHAI employees violated the notification collected the fee, and also misbehaved with the petitioner when he filed the complaint. The employees treated the complainant mentally Causing distress and irritation. Moreover, NHAI is liable because the employees and/or contractor were appointed by it."

The Commission rejected the negligence of other defendants including SBI. And directed NHAI to pay a compensation of Rs 25,000 to the petitioner for mental anguish and pain caused to him.