Bengaluru, June 10 -- The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a Madras high court order that restrained the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) from collecting toll fees on the Madurai-Tuticorin stretch of National Highway-38 due to poor road conditions. The top court observed that the high court's June 3 direction was contrary to public interest and should not have been passed.

A bench comprising of justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan admitted NHAI's appeal against the high court order and issued notice. "We are staying the high court order. You file your response," the bench told senior advocate P Wilson, who appeared for the original petitioner, V Balakrishnan.

Additional solicitor general N Venkataraman represented the NH...