Mumbai: Disputed traffic e-challans to be heard at Lok Adalat

Photo for representational purpose. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

In an effort to collect pending e-challans worth Rs 432 crore, the traffic police department has decided to settle disputes at the Lok Adalat to be held next month. About two lakh disputed e-challan matters will be heard during the three-day Lok Adalat, starting September 25.

The traffic police department had formed teams of 50 officers to collect e-challans, as lakhs of them had piled up and violators were not coming forward to pay the fines. The teams paid visit to the defaulters at their homes, but were faced by another hurdle, as many disputed their e-challan. While some claimed they were wrongfully fined, others said they do not own the vehicle anymore. Some people had even complained that they were fined twice a day for wrong parking. There are owners who claimed their driver was behind the wheels and has now left the job.

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The department then decided to settle the claims in the Lok Adalat, which is a forum where disputes pending in the court of law or at pre-litigation stage are settled amicably. Lok Adalats have been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.

As many as 16 Judicial Magistrate of First Class will hear the disputes over three days. "This Lok Adalat will run from September 25 to September 27 and about two lakh people will be called and heard," a traffic police officer said. People who have several pending e-challans and still haven't paid fines will also be called, the officer added. A list is being made of the violators to be called for hearing. From 2016 to July 31, 2021, a total of 2,09,96,200 e-challans worth about Rs 681 crore have been issued. Traffic police have recovered Rs 248.5 crore till July31, and are yet to collect Rs 432.37 crore.

25 Sept
Day the Lok Adalat for traffic offenders will start