Union Cabinet to amend Act to increase traffic violation fine amount

New Delhi, Mar 1 (UNI) The Union Government today informed the Delhi High Court that the Union Cabinet would amend the Act to enhance the fine amount for traffic violation to control traffic offences in the capital.

Government Counsel Suresh Kait said the Union Cabinet in its meeting today, would take up the proposal submitted by the Union Home Ministry to enhance the fine amount for various offences from Rs 100 to Rs 1000.

A division bench of Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice H R Malhotra said, ''Take a decision in public interest. Many human lives would be saved.'' The court banned the recruitment of drivers for the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) till the pronouncement of the order in the public suit.

''Drivers should be at least 12th pass. Educated drivers would be rational and more sensible. Ensure that the drivers of the DTC and private buses in the capital are properly trained,'' said the bench.

The Court has approved the 28-point suggestions of a committee, constituted under the chairpersonship of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Gopal Subramaniam, to evolve measures to streamline the traffic in Delhi.

Mr Subramaniam, who was asked by the court to convene a meeting of the nodal officers of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), State Transport Authority and Delhi Traffic Police, studied the problems of the traffic offences that claimed 2,019 lives in accidents in 2005.

The court approved the suggestions of the committee to enhance the amount of the fine from Rs 100 to Rs1,000 for any traffic rule violation including lane jumping, red signal jumping and rogue driving.

UNI