The Punjab Mechanical Vehicles (Bridge Tolls) Act, 1957

(1) This Act may be called the Punjab Mechanical Vehicles (Bridge Tolls) Act, 1957. (2) It shall extend to the whole of the Union territory of Chandigarh. (3) It shall come into force at once.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— (a) 'bridge' means a bridge specified in the Schedule annexed to this Act and such other bridge as may, from time to time, be notified by the Central Government in this behalf: (b) 'mechanical vehicle' means any laden or Unladen vehicle designed to be driven under its own power including a motor vehicle as defined in clause (78) of Section 2 of the Indian Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 but does not include a cart or a bicycle; (c) 'Toll Inspector' means the person authorised by the Central Government to collect toll in respect of any mechanical vehicle crossing a bridge, and includes every Government servant posted at a bridge in connection with the collection of toll.

(1) There shall be levied and paid to the Central Government on every mechanical vehicle specified in column 2 of the second Schedule to this Act, crossing a bridge, a toll at the rate, specified against each mechanical vehicle in column 3 thereof; Provided that no toll shall be levied on Defence Services Vehicles; and such other mechanical vehicle or class of Mechanical vehicles, any class of persons or individuals as the Central Government may, by general or special order, exempt from the levy or payment of the toll. (2) Every driver of a mechanical vehicle shall, before crossing a bridge, pay to the Toll Inspector posted at the entrance of the bridge, the toll and shall not cross the bridge without obtaining a receipt from him in token of having paid the amount thereof. (3) Such receipt shall be handed over to the Toll Inspector posted at the other end of the bridge.

The Driver of a mechanical vehicle shall cause the vehicle to stop when required to do so by the Toll Inspector to enable him to carry out any duties imposed on him by or under this Act.

(1) Whoever— (a) attempts to cross any bridge without complying with the provisions of this Act; or (b) obstructs the Toll Inspector in the discharge of his duties imposed by or under this Act; or (c) contravenes any other provision of this Act or the rules made thereunder or any order or direction made under any such provision of rule; shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine which may extend to fifty rupees. (2) No Magistrate shall take cognizance of any offence under this Act except on a complaint in writing made by the Toll Inspector.

No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person, authorised to act by or under this Act, for anything done or purporting to have been done, in good faith, under this Act or the rules made thereunder.

No civil court shall have jurisdiction in any matter which the Central Government or any other person or authority is empowered by this Act or the rules made thereunder to dispose of or take cognizance of, regarding the manner in which the Central Government or such person or authority exercise any powers vested in it or him by or under this Act or the rules made thereunder.

The Central Government may by notification make rules, consistent with this Act, for securing the levy and collection of toll and generally for the purposes of this Act.