Punjab Transport Minister Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Wednesday said that taking swift action against tax offenders, Transport Department has cancelled as many as 125 Bus Permits, including 31 owned by former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and his family members for evasion of motor vehicle taxes.
Warring said the action was necessitated on account of non-payment of due taxes and attempts being made by offenders to hoodwink the system to inflict loss to public exchequer.T he action has been undertaken in compliance with provisions contained in section 103 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, he added.
Reiterating his commitment to ensure transparent and level playing transport ecosytem in the state, Warring asked the department to further pace up vigil against any attempt to fleece the exchequer. Nobody found involved in any wrongdoing would be spared, he warned.
As many as 30 Integral Coach permits belonging to Badals run Orbit Aviation Private Limited, besides one owned by New Fateh Travels has been cancelled for tax default by RTA Bhatinda authorities. Another 16 ordinary permits of Mandeep Travels have been cancelled, an official spokesperson revealed later. Tax liability is pending against New Fateh Bus Service since January this year, while Orbit Aviation Private Limited has been acted against for delay in tax deposition relating to months of March till October, 2021, spokesperson added.
In similar action, RTA Faridkot has cancelled 73 ordinary bus permits of New Deep Bus Service, in addition to their 3 Integral Coach Permits for what of tax amount of Rs 2 Crore 62 Lakhs. 2 Ordinary Bus Permits of Malwa Bus Service have also been cancelled, the spokesperson added.