EMN
Dimapur, July 25
A response to news reports published in the local dailies on July 22 about “illegal collection of tax” as highlighted by the Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUA) has been received from the District Transport Office (DTO) of Dimapur. “Illegal taxes” were allegedly being carried out by personnel of the DTO from sand trucks at the Dillai gate, near Dimapur. The DTO of Dimapur has clarified that the ‘compounding receipt’ which was published in the newspapers was genuine and legally issued by the enforcement inspector concerned.
In a clarification today, the DTO said the fee in question was collected “due to the offence committed by the vehicle owner/driver.” The fee realized was deposited into the government treasury under the head “0041” taxes on vehicles, the DTO said.
During the performance of duty on roadside, violators, if detected, are penalized by way of compounding fees, the office said while clarifying that there is no collection made on a monthly basis.
The clarification stated that the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 confers powers to the officers, who are duly delegated, to compound fees and also empowers enforcement inspector and other officers above him to compound fees for the offences of any section of MV Act and Rules.
While appreciating the concern of the ACAUT, under the aegis of Naga Council of Dimapur, for the benefit of the people of the state the DTO said the enforcement personnel of the department have been rendering services to their best and are ‘immensely instrumental in controlling the violations of the MV Act and Rules.’
