Traffic lok adalats a big draw

Harsh Vardhan Sahni / TNN / Sep 9, 2007, 05:10 IST

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In a progressive move to settle pending traffic offence cases, the Delhi Traffic Police constituted five mega lok adalats.

NEW DELHI: In a progressive move to settle pending traffic offence cases, the Delhi Traffic Police constituted five mega lok adalats, which started work on Saturday and would continue on Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm at Patiala House, Rohini, Karkardooma and Tis Hazari courts. They would help settle long standing challans for as low as Rs 50.
"Around 17,000 people turned up on Saturday alone, at the various courts," said a senior traffic police official.
The turnout at these mega adalats on Saturday, even surpassed expectations of officials in charge. "We are very happy with the attendance today. Thousands of people have come to this court alone to clear pending cases. Most of them are here for offences relating to overspeeding, not wearing helmet, jumping red lights among others," said an official present at the Patiala House.
Many people jumped into action on Saturday morning after reading in the paper about the special courts. Ashish Mittal, a management student said: "I read the report in the newspaper and checked for challans against me on the Delhi Traffic Police website (delhitrafficpolice.nic.in), by entering my licence plate number and discovered I had two pending challans. I grabbed the opportunity to get rid of this headache and was charged just Rs 50 instead of Rs 900."

However, all weren’t as happy as Ashish since many claimed they had been falsely challaned. M S Randhawa, a bank employee said: "According to my challan, I was prosecuted at 11 am, which is not possible since I was at office from 10 am to 5 pm. I have been charge of a defective number plate though I have proof, scanned copies of pollution certificates both before and after the challan date, showing the number plate in perfect condition." He presented his case before the metropolitan magistrate whom he was referred to, who let him off with Rs 50. "Rs 50 for what, I can still ask, but it’s better than having to repeatedly go for court hearings and spend way more money on petrol."

S J Nizami, a travel agent provided substantial proof to back his case. "I was sent a chalan, which I had already paid and even have even brought the receipt with me, which I showed to the magistrate. He told me that he could let me off, but in that scenario, the computer records would continue to show my case as pending. Finally I was let off with Rs 50," said Nizami.
Officer on special duty at the Patila house court, Ram Shankar said: "Everyone can object, claiming false implication, but it is in favour of everyone to pay a nominal amount and get rid of their challan, which is apparent in the number of people who have come today. Around 5,500 people came to this court alone."

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