Himachal Pradesh High Court allows BBN industry body to hire vehicles to transport goods

Tribune News Service

Solan, November 25

The HP High Court today directed the Nalagarh Truck Operators Unions and the Baddi-Nalagarh Truck Operators Transport Society not to interfere with the transportation activities of the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Industrial Association (BBNIA).

A Division Bench comprising Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua pronounced the orders today on a petition filed by the BBNIA. The court said that the association could make its own arrangements to transport goods or raw material within or outside the state while the unions were directed not to prevent the association from doing so, under any circumstances.

The DGP, Solan Deputy Commissioner, and the Baddi SP were directed to ensure that the orders are implemented in letter and in spirit. The three officers would also have to file an affidavit stating compliance of the orders before the court within two weeks.

The court noted that the practice of blackmailing industrialists and the general public and the collection of ‘goonda tax’ had not stopped. Taking the authorities to task, the court stated that it was clear that the officials either did not have the intention to implement the orders or there had been a complete failure of law and order, particularly in Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh. The High Court had passed similar orders against the transport societies at Parwanoo in 2019.

The BBNIA in its petition contended that various industrial units were established in the state after the announcement of a special industrial package in 2003. But the dominant truck unions charged excessive freights from the industries, forcing them to utilise the services of the trucks owned by them only. In August 2019, the industry association and the transport unions arrived at an arrangement to give discounted rates of transportation and allow at least 30 per cent self-owned trucks to operate. But this was unilaterally withdrawn in August this year.

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