Delhi HC declines to entertain plea seeking waiver of traffic challans to doctors

Delhi High Court on Monday declined to entertain a plea by a doctors' association seeking waiving of e-challans issued against "all corona warriors", including healthcare workers, during first two phases of COVID-19 lockdown.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan asked association to make a representation to traffic police with regard to its prayers for formulation of guidelines on display of speed limit signboards and immediate intimation of violation to violator, Delhi government additional standing counsel Santosh Tripathi said.

bench stated that as and when such a representation is made, authorities concerned will decide on it in accordance with law and rules and as expeditiously as possible and practicable, he said.

With direction, court disposed of plea which had contended that during first two phases of lockdown, all traffic signals were t functioning or were on auto blinking mode and consequently, " alleged traffic violations are without any justified ground and reason reof".

detailed order is awaited. association, which according to plea is a district branch of Delhi Medical Association, had stated that e-challans were issued based on electronic surveillance alone.

" traffic police has engd in discriminatory practices by targeting essential service providers by penalizing m without any application of mind during lockdown," said petition filed through advocate Shashank Deo Sudhi.

Apart from waiving traffic challans, petition also sought formulation of comprehensive guidelines in respect of display of speed limit signboards.

petition contended that re are roads in national capital where within a 2km stretch, re would be several signboards indicating varying speed limits from 70 km per hour to 50 km per hour.

On some roads, signboards are t even clearly visible, it alleged. petition had also alleged that motorists are often also "victim of delayed intimation regarding violation of traffic rules".

"In this respect, it is submitted that if traffic police could have mechanism to intimate owner of vehicles within 24 hours, so that alleged violators may be cautious in future in respect of traffic violation and y may t commit same offences time and again of similar nature," it said.

It sought a direction to traffic police for immediate intimation, preferably within 24 hours, via electronic mode about violation as motorists usually get to kw about it when e-challans are issued after a month or two.

(Photo Credit: PTI)