Fake news claim: A viral news claims exemption of Lawyers from paying toll charges.

The letter, dated 3 December, is addressed to Advocate Ravi Gowda and has been purportedly issued by IAS Officer and Private Secretary to Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Sanket Bhondve.

As per your letter dated1 December 2019, I am directed to inform you that all Lawyers of all the states in India are permanently exempted from paying toll charges in all tolls. Lawyers ID be shown.

Facts Check Verdict: False

News Verification: A letter viral on social media, claiming that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has exempted lawyers across India from paying charges at toll plazas in India is fake.

The letter is mostly viral on WhatsApp claiming that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) has exempted lawyers across India from paying toll charges at all the toll plazas.

As the news went viral, PIB India tweeted terming this letter as a fake one.

#PIBFactCheck

Claim: A Letter is being circulated on Social Media, stating that all Lawyers in India are exempted from paying Toll Fees

Reality: #NHAI has clarified that as per NH fee rules lawyers are not exempted from paying Toll Fees

Conclusion: #FakeNews pic.twitter.com/4YCfQdVxeU

— PIB India (@PIB_India) December 12, 2019

However, Bhondve did write a letter to lawyers seeking exemption from paying toll charges at national highways.

pic.twitter.com/6fElOwVlnO

— Adv Jiten Gupta (@jiten_0291) December 11, 2019

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Wednesday issued a clarification on Wednesday stating that advocates are not exempted from paying user fees at NH Fee toll plazas.. it said, “NHAI clarifies that the user fee collection on National Highways is governed by NH fee rules. As per these rules, Advocates are not exempted from paying user fees (Toll) in NH Fee plazas.”

NHAI clarifies that the user fee collection on National Highways is governed by NH fee rules. As per these rules, Advocates are not exempted from paying user fee (Toll) in NH Fee plazas. @MORTHIndia @MORTHRoadSafety @ihmcl_official

— NHAI (@NHAISocialmedia) December 11, 2019