CHENNAI: A Madras high court bench has directed the Centre and NHAI to issue a circular to create separate lanes for VIPs, including judges, at toll plazas.

The court said that toll collectors should ensure that no vehicle other than those of VIPs and sitting judges is allowed to use these special lanes. “Any violation of the order by NHAI will be viewed seriously.”

Unless there is a separate lane at every toll plaza, VIPs and sitting judges would continue to face “unnecessary harassment” that would amount to contempt by NHAI, they said. “It is disheartening to note that vehicles of VIPs and sitting judges are stopped at toll plazas (for the occupants to present) identity documents, causing a lot of embarrassment,” the judges said.

“It is very unfortunate that sitting judges are also compelled to wait at toll plazas for 10 to 15 minutes (and that this issue) has not been taken seriously by the Union government and NHAI.”

The bench posted the further hearing of the case to four weeks from Wednesday. the judges said: “People maintaining toll plazas shall not indulge in controversy (regarding) VIPs’ and sitting judges’ vehicles without understanding the ramifications.”

