Overview

• A three-judge bench led by CJI B.R. Gavai reserved its order on appeals by NHAI and Guruvayoor Infrastructure against the Kerala High Court’s four-week toll suspension at Paliyekkara.
• Justices questioned why motorists should pay ₹150 when the Edappally–Mannuthy stretch took nearly 12 hours to traverse, rejecting the “act of God” defence after a lorry toppled into a pothole.
• The court probed whether NHAI must compensate drivers for lost fuel and patience during prolonged jams, underscoring heightened judicial scrutiny of highway maintenance.
• Kerala High Court’s toll halt remains in effect as underpass construction delays persist due to monsoon rains and inadequate service roads.
• CPI(M) has warned of blockades at NHAI officials’ homes if gridlock on NH 544 is not resolved by August 21, intensifying political pressure.