‘Decide in 6 weeks on tax relief for school buses running in Punjab’

Chandigarh, June 5

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today set a six-week deadline for the Punjab Principal Secretary to take a decision on the issue of not charging road and other taxes during the Covid-19 pandemic period on school buses and vans running in the state under the Safe School Vahan Scheme.

The direction by the Bench of Justice Jitendra Chauhan and Justice Archana Puri came on a petition filed by the School Van Public Welfare Society for directing Punjab and other respondents not to charge the taxes till the pandemic was over.

Elaborating, counsel DS Gandhi submitted that the directions were being sought as the vehicles were not in use since March 13 following various orders passed by the state and Centre owing to the global outbreak of Covid-19.

The counsel added at the current stage he would be satisfied, if a direction was issued to the Principal Secretary to expeditiously consider and decide a representation. “The present petition is disposed of with a direction to the Principal Secretary to consider and decide the representation, after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, in accordance with the law within six weeks from receipt of the judgment’s certified copy”, the Bench added. — TNS

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