New Delhi, Aug. 20 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to interfere with the Kerala High Court's order suspending toll collection for four weeks on the 65-km Ernakulam-Mannuthy stretch of National Highway 544, observing that road users cannot be compelled to pay a fee when access is blocked due to traffic jams, disrepair and bottlenecks.

The top court's judgment will likely set a precedent for other highways that are in bad condition.

"We are clear in our minds that there is no cause for interference to the interim order and we are convinced not only that the High Court order be sustained, but the division bench also be requested to monitor the situation to ensure ease of traffic," the Supreme Court said in its order.

A bench led b...