Are Ex-Servicemen Exempted From Paying Toll Tax? No, Claim Is False!

MoRTH clarified that no such exemptions are applicable for ex-servicemen.

Fact-Check | The document is fake and is being shared with a false claim.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

A document is doing the rounds on social media platforms with a claim that defence personnel and ex-servicemen, including their family members, are exempted from paying toll tax.

• The notification was purportedly shared by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

An archive of the post can be found here.

(Source: Facebook/Screenshot)

We received a query about the claim on our WhatsApp tipline as well. An archive of a similar could be found here.

What are the facts?: According to Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), the exemptions are available only to the "persons who are on duty" and not for retired personnel. This makes the claim false.

How did we find that out?: On performing a keyword search using the words "toll exemption army personnel", we found an office memorandum issued by MoRTH.

• It carried clarification on three major questions pertaining to toll exemptions given to defence personnel.

• The memorandum said that the "exemption under the Indian Toll (Army and Air Force) Act, 1901 is available only to the persons who are 'on duty' and does not pertain to retired personnel."

• It further said that no exemption is available on use of personal vehicle.

The memorandum was issued on 17 June 2014.

(Source: MoRTH/Screenshot)

• Further, we found a document that carried details of all exemptions and discounts provided.

• Under the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section, we found an answer that categorically denied any exemptions for ex-servicemen.

The FAQ section mentioned a categorical denial.

(Source: MoRTH/Screenshot)

Conclusion: Evidently, the claim about defence personnel and ex-servicemen being exempted from paying toll is false.

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