50 percent discount on traffic fines settled before Feb 11

Bengaluru: The Transport Department has given a huge concession on fines imposed through e-challan for violating traffic rules in the state. The cases settled before February 11 will get a 50 percent discount on the outstanding dues.

The decision was taken at a meeting held on January 27 chaired by Senior High Court Judge and Executive Chairman of Karnataka State Legal Services Authority Justice B. Veerappa. Following this, the transport department issued a notification on February 2, announcing the “one-time concession” on the fines due. The rebate will be applicable on those cases settled across the state before February 11.

The state government is owed about Rs 1,003 crores in fines for traffic violations across the commissionerates in the state, of which about 80 percent of the cases are pending in the Bengaluru commisionerate.

In the Lok Adalat held in June 2022, 2.23 lakh litigations in traffic cases were disposed and fines of Rs 22.36 crore were collected. Similarly, 4.18 lakh cases were settled and Rs 23.89 crore fine was collected during the Lok Adalat held in the month of November 2022.

On January 30, the Transport Commissioner had submitted a proposal to the government for giving a 50% discount on the fine amount recorded in the mobile e-challan of the police department across the state. Finance Department has agreed to this proposal.

There were requests from various sections of society including lawyers and the public that discounts should be given while collecting fines in traffic e-challan cases.