Shillong, Dec 19: The Association of Meghalaya Traders and Transporters has filed a writ petition before the Meghalaya High Court challenging the recently approved Weighbridges Policy, 2018 of the State government.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, Association president, Enrico D. Pasi said that the petition is also against the notification of the state government with regards to the numbers and location of weighbridges to be set up across the state.

He said the government’s notification on weighbridges is highly arbitrary as in a single route, more than seven weighbridges are proposed to be set up.

“This will lead to random extortion and harassment to truckers as all their reasonable profits which they are making during the course of their trade and commerce will have to be shed off to the government weighbridges,” Pasi said.

Pasi alleged that the transport department has also resorted to illegal appointment of staffs on adhoc basis and even give promotion to them without following due process of law.

He cited that the enforcement checkers who have never faced district selection committee or other appointing committee, were regularized with the approval of an internal committee formed quietly by the department.

According to him, no notice were published to invite applications from eligible candidates was issued for their appointments.

Meanwhile, he informed that the Meghalaya High Court has issued notice to the state government as to why further order should not be passed on the matter. The next hearing on the matter is after the winter vacation.