In the daily rush of engines and impatience, the law has drawn a clear stop line. Court Draws the Line on On-the-Spot Coercion The Telangana High Court has categorically ruled that police cannot stop vehicles or compel motorists to pay pending traffic challans on the spot. Justice NV Shravan Kumar, while hearing two writ petitions on Tuesday, made it clear that recovery of traffic fines must strictly follow due process of law. The court emphasised that police personnel have no authority to snatch or confiscate vehicle keys or restrain motorists to force immediate payment. The petitions were filed by Secunderabad resident V. Raghavendra Chary, who challenged the manner in which Hyderabad Traffic Police were stopping vehicles on public roads and insisting that old challans be cleared before allowing motorists to proceed. The judge observed that while citizens are free to voluntarily pay traffic fines, coercive methods adopted by enforcement personnel are impermissible and violate the procedure established by law. The court clarified that under the Motor Vehicles Act, compounding of offences is a choice that rests with the motorist. If a citizen refuses to pay, authorities must initiate statutory proceedings through court-issued notices and adjudication by a competent judicial forum.… Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups
