Plea against illegal toll gate near Courtallam falls

Madurai: Madras high court has ordered notice to the state on a plea seeking a direction to the authorities to initiate action against illegal toll gate and fee collection from vehicles entering Old Courtallam falls in Tenkasi district.

A division bench of Justice N Sathish Kumar and Justice M Jothiraman sought response from the state while hearing a public interest litigation filed by P Veerapandian of Sivaganga district. He said a toll gate administered by Ayiraperi panchayat has been set up nearly 1.5km before the falls and toll fee is collected, without giving proper receipts too.

When he filed an RTI application, he came to know that the road was maintained by highways department and no prior permission was obtained from the govt for installing the toll gate and collecting toll fees. The area where the falls is situated comes under the forest department. Therefore, establishing toll gate and toll collection by the panchayat is unauthorised and illegal. Hence, he moved court seeking action against the illegal installation. The hearing in the case was adjourned to July 1.