The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) has filed a FIR against an agent engaged by the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) to man it’s checkpoint at Khliehtyrchi accusing her of illegal collection of tax.
According to HITO, one Ridalin Law has been illegally imposing tax from inter-state commercial vehicles passing through the National Highway when such vehicles, as per the terms and conditions laid by the JHADC, does not require checking of trading license.
The organisation said Law was appointed as an agent to identify and detect illegal trading by non-tribal without valid licence at Khliehtyrchi. On July 21, five commercial vehicles, which originated from Changsari Assam and heading towards Agartala Tripura and Mizoram were illegally taxed at the checkpoint, HITO stated as it enclosed receipts of the collection.
As per section 6 of the appointment letter to the agent, no commercial originating from neighbouring states passing through the national highway will be subjected to checking and no trade license is required.
While the terms and conditions states that checking of trading license of non tribal commercial vehicles shall be done under the strict supervision of the officers deputed by the district council as per Rule 30 of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Trading by Non-tribal Rules, 2015, HITO said that no officer was deputed at the checkpoint in Khliehtyrchi.
The organisation noted that alongside illegal collection of tax, setting up of checkpoints on the national highway is also in violation of Chapter III, Section 24 of The Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002.
HITO has taken up cudgels against checkpoints erected by the JHADC when it raised objections to illegal collection at a weighbridge cum forest checkpoint at Sonapur and a forest beat office at Ratacherra recently.
