Tractor-trailers can’t ply on highways: Punjab and Haryana High Court

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 20

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today verbally observed that tractor-trailers could not ply on the highways under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. The observations by the Bench of Acting Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji came during the resumed hearing of petitions filed in public interest on the farmers’ protests.

“How can you go in a tractor-trolley? According to the Motor Vehicles Act, you cannot use tractors and trolleys on the highway.... You are travelling on your tractors and trolleys from Amritsar to Delhi… Everyone knows about their rights, but there are also constitutional duties,” the Bench observed. The Centre was also asked to file a status report on the latest development and the details of the meetings with farmers by the next date of hearing.

The Haryana Government, meanwhile, told the Bench there were inputs that thousands of farmers in modified tractors with other machines might try to break the barriers and to move towards Delhi. In an affidavit placed before the Bench, it was added that the administration in Haryana had taken all precautionary measures considering the previous experience. Accordingly the farmers had been stopped at barriers, using legal means and methods. Efforts had also been made to ensure free movement of people. The affidavit added the state would take all possible steps against the violators of law to ensure that the protesters did not block important roads and places in Haryana.

The Punjab Government, in its affidavit, submitted that the Haryana Police had intimated that the protesting farmers were mobilising heavy earth moving equipment, JCB etc., following which the office of Special DGP, Law and Order, Punjab, directed all the Commissioners of Police and SSPs in Punjab that “no JCB machines or any other heavy machine is allowed to move towards Patiala and Sangrur districts”.

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