The Allahabad High Court has issued a directive to the Congress Party, instructing them to make a payment of more than ₹2.66 crore to the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) within a three-month period. This payment is in relation to their utilization of UPSRTC's buses and taxis during the years 1981 to 1989.

A panel consisting of Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Manish Kumar dismissed the Congress Party's claim of being targeted for political reasons. They ruled that the specified sum must be settled, and it should include an interest rate of 5 percent from the date when it becomes due.

The Court has directed that simply alleging political bias after a change in government or attempting to use a technical argument, such as claiming that the amount cannot be treated as arrears of land revenue, cannot excuse the Congress Party from its obligation to settle its outstanding bills.

The court observed that UPSRTC had supplied vehicles for political rallies and various activities associated with the Congress party.

The statement indicates that initially, the Congress party had shown a willingness to resolve the issue, but over time, their stance has completely shifted, and they are now raising objections primarily on technical grounds.

One of the outstanding bills was also connected to the vehicles rented for transporting individuals to pay their respects to the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984.

The court observed that the Congress party, while in power in Uttar Pradesh, made use of resources for its political endeavors, and at times, the acquisition of vehicles was carried out under the guidance of the then Chief Minister or relevant Minister.

The court also mentioned that the Congress party had made partial payments in advance on two occasions. However, they had not settled the remaining bills, despite receiving multiple reminders from the concerned party.

The party asserted that the bills were fabricated and untrue, but the Court found this argument to be lacking in specificity and noted that it did not constitute a denial of the existence of transaction receipts. The Court further pointed out that there was no evidence on record to indicate that the State government had made any decision to settle the outstanding dues.

In the current case, the ruling political party had exploited its influential position and made use of public assets for its political objectives. Although invoices were issued to the petitioner political party, it chose to disregard them and did not make the necessary payments," the bench stated.

The State had initiated actions to recover dues from the Congress party in 1998 under the UP Public Moneys (Recovery of Dues) Act, 1972. However, the Court intervened by issuing a stay order on the recovery proceedings in November 1998, and the case has remained unresolved for the past 25 years.

Taking into account that the case pertains to the recovery of public funds, the Court emphasized that the Congress party was obligated to settle the outstanding amount. Consequently, it issued a directive to the UP Congress, instructing them to make the payment, including interest, within a three-month period.