Vehicles Should Be Seized If Challans Are Not Paid: High Court

• General

• December 19, 2024

The High Court of Andhra Pradesh felt that strict penalties must be meted out to violators of the Motor Vehicle Act for ensuring road safety. It directed the police to conduct intensive road checks and impose on-the-spot fines in order to instill discipline among motorists. According to the court, visible police presence would deter potential violators and reduce road accidents.

This was on the day when a PIL filed by Advocate Tandava Yogesh brought forth increasing accidents and killings on roads because of nonenforcement of motor vehicle rules. At the time of hearing, Chief Justice Dheeraj Singh Thakur along with Justice Chimalapati Ravi ordered Traffic IG A K Ravi Krishna to be present in the court as he was ordered to seek information on effective implementation of the said rules.

Recommendations for Stronger Implementation

• Confiscation of Vehicles: The court requested authorities to seize vehicles of defaulters who fail to pay challans within 90 days under Section 167 of the Motor Vehicle Act and cancel licenses under Section 206.
• Compulsory Use of Helmets: Underlining the shocking figure of 667 deaths in three months owing to helmet violations, the court laid emphasis on mandatory helmet use by both the riders and pillion passengers.
• Better Supervision: The High Court criticized poor on-ground supervision, which it recommended should be more stringent like in Delhi and Chandigarh.
• Noise and Speed Control: The High Court was of the opinion that there was too much horn blowing and rash driving, especially in Vijayawada, and it observed that the police lacked speed guns and had no records of enforcement.

Call for Public Awareness and Accountability

The bench directed the authorities to raise public awareness through newspapers, television, FM radio, posters, and cinema halls and asked the Traffic IG to file an affidavit stating the efforts taken by them in enforcement of helmet use, at district levels, and other related government initiatives.

Court's Assurance

The High Court assured that strict implementation of these measures would bring about significant change within two months. IG Ravi Krishna promised stricter enforcement and asked for three weeks to file the affidavit, after which the hearing was adjourned for three weeks.