The ongoing tussle between out-of-State vehicle owners and the Transport Department shows no signs of abating anytime soon.

The State has sought legal opinion on the High Court judgment quashing the Karnataka Motor Vehicle Taxation (Amendment) Act-2014 which made it mandatory for people using their out-of-State vehicles for more than 30 days in the State to pay lifetime tax.

In the meantime, people whose vehicles were seized are still unable to get them released. In fact, the original petitioner in the case was asked on Monday to return without his vehicle documents as the Regional Transport Office (RTO) allegedly told him that the judgment did not mention that the documents had to be returned.

Earlier last week, RTO officials started asking vehicle owners to submit notarised affidavits stating they would pay tax if eligible before vehicles and documents were returned. “We are seeking legal opinion to see if the judgment is applicable with retrospective effect. But all vehicles seized on the day of the judgment are being released,” said Transport Commissioner Rame Gowda.

Anandhu K., the petitioner, said, “My wife’s company ID card and RC book were seized in July 2014. I got a stay order from the High Court stating that the matter would not be precipitated till an order was passed. Inspite of this, the RTO seized my wife’s driving licence and the first check report a second time.”