Telangana HC issues contempt notices over e-challan vehicle seizure

The Telangana High Court issued contempt notices to senior state officials after Hyderabad traffic police allegedly violated judicial directions by seizing a lawyer’s vehicle over pending e-challans, despite earlier orders prohibiting coercive measures.

By Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar of the Telangana High Court on Friday issued notices to senior State officials in a contempt case, after it was alleged that, despite specific court directions restraining coercive measures or seizure of vehicles during e-challan enforcement, Hyderabad traffic police forcibly seized the petitioner’s vehicle.

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Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar of the Telangana High Court on Friday took a serious view of an alleged breach of its earlier directions relating to e-challan enforcement, and issued notices to senior state officials in a contempt case.

The Court directed notices to the Home Secretary and the Director General of Police, Telangana, along with the Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Hyderabad, the Transport Commissioner, and personnel of the Chikkadpally traffic police station.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on June 19. The proceedings arose from a contempt plea filed by V. Raghvendra Chary, who complained that despite clear judicial directions restraining coercive action for pending traffic challans, his vehicle was forcibly seized by traffic police in the city.

Appearing for the petitioner, counsel V. Vijay Gopal submitted that the High Court had, in an earlier order passed in January, explicitly directed authorities not to resort to coercive steps such as seizure of vehicles for unpaid e-challans. Instead, the Court had mandated that enforcement agencies initiate appropriate legal proceedings by filing charge sheets before competent courts.

It was alleged that, notwithstanding these directions, traffic personnel at RTC X Roads stopped the petitioner on April 9 and seized his scooter on the ground of pending challans. The petitioner, a practicing advocate, was reportedly on his way to court at the time of the incident.

The counsel further contended that the officials not only refused to acknowledge the digital Registration Certificate produced through the m-Wallet platform but also took away the original RC. It was argued that such conduct amounted to a clear violation of both the High Court’s binding directions and the applicable provisions under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.

The Court, after hearing the submissions, deemed it appropriate to seek responses from the concerned authorities, indicating that the issue raises questions of compliance with judicial orders and the manner of enforcement adopted by traffic officials. The matter will be taken up next on June 19.