Nationwide Implementation of Electronic Challan System | 06 Sep 2024

Source: HT

The Supreme Court recently stressed the urgent need for stricter road discipline enforcement using electronic monitoring devices like speed cameras, CCTV, and speed guns. It directed all states and UTs to implement the legal provision mandating the use of such technology for road safety on highways and urban roads.

This implementation falls under Section 136A of the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act, 1988, which was introduced through a amendment in 2019 to mandate electronic monitoring for road safety.
- The court decided to monitor compliance by organising states into groups, and specifically singled out the governments of Delhi, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala, directing them to report on their adherence to Section 136A.
The court also directed state governments to ensure compliance with Rule 167A of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
- This rule outlines the guidelines for using electronic enforcement devices to issue challans (penalties) for various traffic violations, such as overspeeding, unauthorised parking and not wearing protective gear.