SC notices to Centre, Delhi govt on extra costs on challans

New Delhi, Jan 3 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Centre, the Delhi government and the Delhi Police Commissioner on a petition challenging the Delhi High Court judgement directing authorities to impose an additional cost of Rs 500 on every challan for violation of traffic rules in the city.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices R V Raveendran and J M Panchal issued the notices after hearing the counsel for All India Goods Transport Association.

D K Sharma, counsel for the petitioner association, contended that it was beyond the jurisdiction of the court to impose cost on traffic challans as it was a job of either the Executive or the Legislature.

The petitioner also contended that lawmaking was not within the competence of the court and, therefore, the High Court judgement dated March 28, 2007 was liable to be set aside as no additional money can be charged from the violators of the traffic rules beyond what was prescribed under the Motor Vehicles Act.

The High Court had issued the directions in view of the increasing incidence of traffic rules violations in Delhi so that enhanced penalty can act as deterrent for the violators.

UNI AKS/SC KD KN1713