#CheckYourChallan - A Common Cause Initiative
Common Cause has started running #CheckYourChallan, a campaign to promote awareness on e-challans among common citizens. Ordinary citizens already reeling under Covid losses have also been facing severe distress ever since new e-challan systems and e-payment gateways were launched by the Traffic Police in various states. Despite being a noble effort aimed at helping citizens to login securely at their convenience and settle violation notices with proof of payment, there have been numerous obstacles posed by this technology-driven process.
The objective of this initiative is to ensure that citizens across the various sections of society are made aware of the new systems in place so that they can check their traffic violations online and take necessary action.
The situation is particularly dire in Delhi. Since its launch, multiple news reports have flagged the sudden increase in the number of challans issued in Delhi, especially after the lockdown announcement. The two effective causes identified are the extensive deployment of CCTV cameras and over-speeding by vehicles on empty roads, owing to the lockdown.
Other factors have worsened the problem. Along with fines for earlier traffic offences, the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act 2019 has notified 24 non-compoundable offences i.e. offences where one has to appear in the court and the violator may be charged with a range of penalties, including a jail term.
Traditionally, when challans were issued, violators received intimations at the address notified by them at the time of vehicle registration. With the advent of mobile phones, the scope of the procedure was expanded. Violators also received intimations through text messages on their registered mobile numbers. Subsequently, online portals were set up, allowing citizens to check their traffic violation challans by logging into the traffic police websites of their states. While an online process is intended to improve accessibility and compliance, it has only succeeded in creating confusion and anxiety in citizens on the wrong side of the digital divide. It is an undeniable fact that smartphone access in our country is insufficient and internet plans unaffordable for large swathes of the population. Therefore, individuals without reliable internet access and inadequate digital literacy haven’t been able to access their traffic violation intimations.
As a result, several concerned citizens have approached Common Cause. Despite getting their addresses and mobile numbers notified during vehicle registration, they did not receive any challan intimation. Eventually, after managing to access the concerned website, they discovered multiple challans issued against their vehicles, and a pile-up of fines. The vehicle owners in many cases had no clue about the fines that they were required to pay.
Common Cause is concerned with the way citizens have been caught unawares by a completely online traffic violation monitoring mechanism. The digital-first process has disproportionately affected vehicle drivers and owners, particularly from the lower and middle-income groups. The non-delivery of challans may not only lead to non-payment of penalties, resulting in crippling fines but in certain cases, even a jail term.
Additionally, the system and technology are not seamless. The new online mechanism, in some states, is capable of accepting digilocker-compliant documents, aimed at helping the common man with hassle-free interaction, as the authenticity of the document will be pre-verified. It is also an attempt to bring down instances of loss of documents in transit. However, struggles with internet access is common across all sections of the society, brought into sharper focus in professional drivers working for third parties and vehicle aggregators. Despite existence of online portals in various states, the inputs required to access the e-challans are not standardised while professional drivers often don’t have access to the necessary information. The problem is compounded when they are not digitally empowered either.
In response to the growing distress and lack of awareness about the new digital mechanism among citizens, Common Cause has filed representations to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi as well as the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, highlighting the information asymmetry in delivery of challans. In an effort to improve compliance of traffic rules and foster respect for the rule of law in the country, Common Cause has suggested that the authorities carry out a campaign with the participation of citizens. This will ensure that drivers across all sections of the society are aware of the automated systems in place and are able to maintain better road safety standards.
To begin with, Common Cause initiated the #CheckYourChallan by attempting to obtain relevant statistical data on the challan by filing RTI Applications. However, we did not receive a favourable response. Currently, we are generating awareness across social media platforms about the exact procedure of checking e-challan. We are trying to reach a wider audience by harnessing the power of digital channels so that more people connect with us and share their difficulties in navigating this online traffic violation monitoring mechanism. This will help us to move forward in plugging the information deficit and mitigate the woes of the common man.
Also check: https://www.commoncause.in/page.php?id=166