Amid A Lockdown, Maharashtra’s First Virtual Court For Traffic Challans In Pune

The coronavirus pandemic has forced the Indian Judicial system to rethink and create a technological infrastructure to further improve and expand the system with virtual courts. Supreme Court Justice DY Chandrachud on May 13 said that the infrastructure for video conferencing in the Supreme Court and High Courts have been created that now consists of over 17,000 courts in the country.

The Bombay High Court has now initiated Maharashtra's first virtual court in Pune for online adjudication of traffic challan cases. The HC officials said that the purpose of these courts was to lessen the footfall in the courts and reduce the burden on the judges, whose judicial time can be utilized for other cases.

In 2019, six lakh e-challans were issued in Maharashtra till 31st Oct for breaking signals and 28 lakh for unauthorized parking. 14 lakh e-challans were issued for driving 2 wheelers without helmets. Around 10 lakh e-challans were issued for people not wearing seatbelts. Nearly 3.38 lakh challans were issued for the offence of talking or texting while driving and around 1.11 lakh people were booked for drunk driving.

These virtual courts will be administered by a Judge who will decide the amount of fine. Once that is decided, a text message along with the web link would be sent to the violator informing him/her about the fine.

Once the violator receives the message, he/she can opt to either pay the fine or contest the summons. In case the violator decides not to contest and pleads guilty, she/he will pay the requisite minimum fine through online mode on the day and the time of her/his choosing within the stipulated period. But in case the violator chooses to contest, the regular courts will hear the cases.