Patna: The Patna high court has slapped a cost of Rs 5,000 on the state govt for failing to file a reply to a writ petition alleging an erroneous levy of a traffic fine in the capital.The traffic fine was allegedly imposed at the rate applicable to a heavy motor vehicle (HMV) on the owner of a light motor vehicle (LMV). A single bench of justice Girijish Kumar passed the order on Thursday while hearing a writ petition filed by Vidya Chand Pandey.The court expressed its displeasure over the listless approach of the state govt in filing a reply to Pandey’s allegations despite repeated directions during the last three hearings of the case.Petitioner’s counsels Amit Pandey and Manuar Alam submitted before the court that their client had been denied a pollution under control (PUC) certificate because of a pending e-challan of Rs 5,000 issued by traffic police.When the petitioner verified the basis of the traffic fine, he found that the challan had allegedly been issued at the rate applicable to a heavy motor vehicle.Because of the discrepancy in the rate of the e-challan, the petitioner was denied a valid PUC certificate.The matter will be heard again on Sept 24.
