Madurai:
Tamil Nadu state Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission's circuit bench in Maduria has imposed a fine of Rs seven lakh on Kodaikanal municipality for collecting toll from residents.
Judicial Member of the Bench A K Annamalai and member S Sambandam in their recent order said "it is a unfair practice" to collect toll from local residents, on a complaint filed by Kodaikanal Taxi Drivers and Owners Association president M Mani and South Indian Consumer and Human Rights Protection Council Managing Trustee K Manavalan.
They directed to pay Rs 5 lakh to the state consumer welfare fund and Rs 2 lakh to the Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity within six weeks.
Thousands of people reside in more than 15 villages including Adukka, Pachalur, Poolathur, Thandikudi, Vilpatty, K C Patty, Kookal, Pannaikadu, Poombarai, Vedagounchi, Kamanur, Mannavanoor, Peraiyur, Poondi and Vellakavi in Kodaikanal taluk.
The residents of these villages should cross the municipality's toll gate to access all government offices, hospitals and schools.
The municipality collected Rs 40 for four-wheeler riders and Rs 10 from two-wheeler riders per trip as toll, which the local residents had been opposing for long.
The Commission by an interim order stayed the toll collection last year.