Overview

• The Division Bench of Justices Muhammad Mustaque and Harishankar Menon halted toll collection on the Edappally–Mannuthy stretch from August 6 for an interim four-week period
• The court reprimanded the National Highways Authority of India for not delivering on its promise made a month earlier to repair the highway and relieve chronic gridlock
• Invoking the public-trust doctrine, the bench held that statutory rights to collect user fees depend on providing safe, unhindered access to commuters
• Additional Solicitor General A.R.L. Sundaresan argued only a small segment was affected and traffic was rerouted onto service roads, a claim the court found insufficient
• Alongside the suspension, the court directed the central government to coordinate with NHAI on congestion relief and maintenance measures within the monthlong stay