In the viral video, a serving army officer argues with a toll staff member after being asked to pay, claiming that he had crossed several toll plazas earlier without paying.
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First and foremost, service in the Armed Forces — whether in the Army, Navy, or Air Force — is a 24×7 commitment. There is no concept of “off-duty” in the conventional sense. Even while on leave, personnel remain subject to service obligations. It is not comparable to a normal 9-to-5 civilian job.
Secondly, a Movement Order is an official and sensitive document issued for a specific operational or administrative purpose. It cannot be casually displayed or shared, as it may relate to designated movements or classified details. Expecting its public production reflects a lack of understanding of service protocols.
Portraying a serving soldier in a casual or dismissive manner, or reducing his professional conduct to a simplistic narrative, is neither fair nor respectful. Members of the Armed Forces operate under strict codes of discipline and accountability, and they deserve to be treated with due dignity at all times — irrespective of whether they are in uniform at that moment.
The issue is not about privilege; it is about understanding the unique nature of military service and maintaining the respect that such service rightfully commands.
This is an article without research. When an army person goes on casual leave and gets injured , he is considered as on duty. Same applies for Toll. The casual leave is considered on duty.
The traveling time or the journey period is also considered on duty while during annual leave.pl do your research before publishing such biased views. He has also crossed 3 x toll booths before being confronted by this operator.
The author of the article is requested to read the Army Toll Act first. Nowhere in the Act is there a mention of on duty and off duty. In fact Supreme Court has already dismissed a petition which challenged the validity of the Act. The interpretation of on or off duty has been created by NHAI which has no jurisdiction of interpreting such Acts as it’s a legislative task.
This is an article without research. When an army person goes on casual leave and gets injured , he is considered as on duty. Same applies for Toll. The casual leave is considered on duty.
The traveling time or the journey period is also considered on duty while during annual leave.pl do your research before publishing such biased views. He has also crossed 3 x toll booths before being confronted by this operator.
I understand that our defence forces personals are on duty 24×7. Is it possible for an army guy to stop in the middle and go to his rest area during a war saying he shift has finished and he will continue his fight on the next day?
This is too cheap mindset from NHAI and their staff. They give exemptions to all politicians, main party workers, police and even other local gundaas.
Defence guys has most right to get an exemption then any one else.
Unfortunately in our country people feels patriotism only on republic day and independance day.
This is what happens when journalists do not know facts and indulge in agenda based writing. All officers while travelling from leave or for rejoining are considered to be on leave. The toll plazas generally know this but then there are always anti establishment individuals who indulge in harassment of soldiers.
All bureaucrats and politicians are exempted.
No toll guy will ever stop police even off duty.
Toll guys will always let hooligans cross. But this journalist feels it is his duty to target Army perssonel.
Journalism is about educating the society about the truth and facts, however, The print has done all but that. News based on a social media post and interpretation based on general trend in the social media.
Sadly not even ready to correct even after realising the mistake. Your entire article is a different story and last ammended paragraph mentions something different, but not clear.
Please take the onus, educate yourself and correct the interpretation
First and foremost, service in the Armed Forces — whether in the Army, Navy, or Air Force — is a 24×7 commitment. There is no concept of “off-duty” in the conventional sense. Even while on leave, personnel remain subject to service obligations. It is not comparable to a normal 9-to-5 civilian job.
Secondly, a Movement Order is an official and sensitive document issued for a specific operational or administrative purpose. It cannot be casually displayed or shared, as it may relate to designated movements or classified details. Expecting its public production reflects a lack of understanding of service protocols.
Portraying a serving soldier in a casual or dismissive manner, or reducing his professional conduct to a simplistic narrative, is neither fair nor respectful. Members of the Armed Forces operate under strict codes of discipline and accountability, and they deserve to be treated with due dignity at all times — irrespective of whether they are in uniform at that moment.
The issue is not about privilege; it is about understanding the unique nature of military service and maintaining the respect that such service rightfully commands.
For a News house that claims “India needs fair Non hyphenated and questioning journalism” the amount of research into the subject is appalling.
Just as how it is embarassing that how you would have decided to print an entire article on the basis of a video on circulating on WhatsApp with absolutely no other looking into the background.
The Act specifies “Families Horses Baggage and Transport”
By your flawed interpretation. If only “on duty” personnel are exempted.
Under what circumstance do you think these personnel would be taking their Families in such case ? How would you define what “on the march” means ? To war ? With their family and kids ?
Your interpretation of the law is wrong.
For Army its excused always.
For terretorial army, its on duty. An Act is an act until another act is passed to amend it. Advisories or circulars cant override Act. Pls write only if u know. Not for sensationalism.
How can bloody rules of an Executive body supersede an Act passed in the Parliament ?
Whether the Act was passed pre or post independence is immaterial. There are many Acts with British legacy in our Constitution because they were applicable post independence too.
Further, a couple of Army Officers had fought this in court and the toll authorities had apologised thereafter.
The NHAI has got its head up its backside and is inefficient in promulgating instructions to all the contractors responsible for toll collection
This is so frustrating. Are the Army personnel going to god-forsaken places just to come back to people twisting and misinterpreting Acts ?
Poor reporting and certainly not expected for ThePrint.
The author of the article is requested to read the Army Toll Act first. Nowhere in the Act is there a mention of on duty and off duty. In fact Supreme Court has already dismissed a petition which challenged the validity of the Act. The interpretation of on or off duty has been created by NHAI which has no jurisdiction of interpreting such Acts as it’s a legislative task.
Armed forces personnel are always considered on duty whether on annual or casual leave and that’s why when its toll free on duty means always. Please don’t spread mis-information.
First and foremost, service in the Armed Forces — whether in the Army, Navy, or Air Force — is a 24×7 commitment. There is no concept of “off-duty” in the conventional sense. Even while on leave, personnel remain subject to service obligations. It is not comparable to a normal 9-to-5 civilian job.
Secondly, a Movement Order is an official and sensitive document issued for a specific operational or administrative purpose. It cannot be casually displayed or shared, as it may relate to designated movements or classified details. Expecting its public production reflects a lack of understanding of service protocols.
Portraying a serving soldier in a casual or dismissive manner, or reducing his professional conduct to a simplistic narrative, is neither fair nor respectful. Members of the Armed Forces operate under strict codes of discipline and accountability, and they deserve to be treated with due dignity at all times — irrespective of whether they are in uniform at that moment.
The issue is not about privilege; it is about understanding the unique nature of military service and maintaining the respect that such service rightfully commands.
This is an article without research. When an army person goes on casual leave and gets injured , he is considered as on duty. Same applies for Toll. The casual leave is considered on duty.
The traveling time or the journey period is also considered on duty while during annual leave.pl do your research before publishing such biased views. He has also crossed 3 x toll booths before being confronted by this operator.
The author of the article is requested to read the Army Toll Act first. Nowhere in the Act is there a mention of on duty and off duty. In fact Supreme Court has already dismissed a petition which challenged the validity of the Act. The interpretation of on or off duty has been created by NHAI which has no jurisdiction of interpreting such Acts as it’s a legislative task.
This is an article without research. When an army person goes on casual leave and gets injured , he is considered as on duty. Same applies for Toll. The casual leave is considered on duty.
The traveling time or the journey period is also considered on duty while during annual leave.pl do your research before publishing such biased views. He has also crossed 3 x toll booths before being confronted by this operator.
I understand that our defence forces personals are on duty 24×7. Is it possible for an army guy to stop in the middle and go to his rest area during a war saying he shift has finished and he will continue his fight on the next day?
This is too cheap mindset from NHAI and their staff. They give exemptions to all politicians, main party workers, police and even other local gundaas.
Defence guys has most right to get an exemption then any one else.
Unfortunately in our country people feels patriotism only on republic day and independance day.
This is what happens when journalists do not know facts and indulge in agenda based writing. All officers while travelling from leave or for rejoining are considered to be on leave. The toll plazas generally know this but then there are always anti establishment individuals who indulge in harassment of soldiers.
All bureaucrats and politicians are exempted.
No toll guy will ever stop police even off duty.
Toll guys will always let hooligans cross. But this journalist feels it is his duty to target Army perssonel.
Grow a conscience
Journalism is about educating the society about the truth and facts, however, The print has done all but that. News based on a social media post and interpretation based on general trend in the social media.
Sadly not even ready to correct even after realising the mistake. Your entire article is a different story and last ammended paragraph mentions something different, but not clear.
Please take the onus, educate yourself and correct the interpretation
First and foremost, service in the Armed Forces — whether in the Army, Navy, or Air Force — is a 24×7 commitment. There is no concept of “off-duty” in the conventional sense. Even while on leave, personnel remain subject to service obligations. It is not comparable to a normal 9-to-5 civilian job.
Secondly, a Movement Order is an official and sensitive document issued for a specific operational or administrative purpose. It cannot be casually displayed or shared, as it may relate to designated movements or classified details. Expecting its public production reflects a lack of understanding of service protocols.
Portraying a serving soldier in a casual or dismissive manner, or reducing his professional conduct to a simplistic narrative, is neither fair nor respectful. Members of the Armed Forces operate under strict codes of discipline and accountability, and they deserve to be treated with due dignity at all times — irrespective of whether they are in uniform at that moment.
The issue is not about privilege; it is about understanding the unique nature of military service and maintaining the respect that such service rightfully commands.
For a News house that claims “India needs fair Non hyphenated and questioning journalism” the amount of research into the subject is appalling.
Just as how it is embarassing that how you would have decided to print an entire article on the basis of a video on circulating on WhatsApp with absolutely no other looking into the background.
The Act specifies “Families Horses Baggage and Transport”
By your flawed interpretation. If only “on duty” personnel are exempted.
Under what circumstance do you think these personnel would be taking their Families in such case ? How would you define what “on the march” means ? To war ? With their family and kids ?
The 1901 toll act clearly states in para 3 (a)(i) that :
*****
3. Exemptions from tolls.—The following persons and property, namely : —
[(a) all officers, soldiers and airmen of—
(i) 5 [the Regular Forces]
*******
Please do read it and if it clears the doubt. Also the on duty and off duty clause is for Reserve forces, NCC and CAPF.
Maybe the reference will help you understand it.
Your interpretation of the law is wrong.
For Army its excused always.
For terretorial army, its on duty. An Act is an act until another act is passed to amend it. Advisories or circulars cant override Act. Pls write only if u know. Not for sensationalism.
How can bloody rules of an Executive body supersede an Act passed in the Parliament ?
Whether the Act was passed pre or post independence is immaterial. There are many Acts with British legacy in our Constitution because they were applicable post independence too.
Further, a couple of Army Officers had fought this in court and the toll authorities had apologised thereafter.
The NHAI has got its head up its backside and is inefficient in promulgating instructions to all the contractors responsible for toll collection
This is so frustrating. Are the Army personnel going to god-forsaken places just to come back to people twisting and misinterpreting Acts ?
Poor reporting and certainly not expected for ThePrint.
The author of the article is requested to read the Army Toll Act first. Nowhere in the Act is there a mention of on duty and off duty. In fact Supreme Court has already dismissed a petition which challenged the validity of the Act. The interpretation of on or off duty has been created by NHAI which has no jurisdiction of interpreting such Acts as it’s a legislative task.
This article is misinformation.
Armed forces personnel are always considered on duty whether on annual or casual leave and that’s why when its toll free on duty means always. Please don’t spread mis-information.