Automobile Desk: Administrative strictness regarding traffic rules across the country has now become very strict. Be it not wearing a helmet while riding a two-wheeler, jumping red light at an intersection or violating any other traffic rule, issuing challans along with heavy fines on all these has become a common thing. This is the reason why a large number of drivers keep accumulating old pending challans. For quick and easy disposal of these pending cases, special Lok Adalats are organized from time to time, where drivers get an excellent opportunity to get their outstanding fines reduced or the cases closed on the basis of mutual agreement.
This misconception often creeps into the minds of many drivers that all types of traffic challans are completely forgiven or dismissed when they reach Lok Adalat. But the reality is quite different from this. According to law experts, there is no provision of exemption or relief like normal traffic challan in cases related to some special and serious crimes. If you are also planning to settle any of your old pending challans, then it is very important to know under which circumstances you should not expect to get any kind of concession.
Drink and Drive
Driving while intoxicated is considered a very serious and irresponsible offense under road safety rules. In such cases, the long arm of the law takes a very strict stance and the accused driver essentially has to go through rigorous court procedures. This is why considering the challan issued under Drink and Drive as a normal traffic fine and imagining its complete waiver in the Lok Adalat can prove to be a huge mistake. The legal action to be taken in such cases entirely depends on the seriousness of the incident and the scope of the applicable rules, hence appropriate guidance should be taken from the relevant forum.
Cases related to serious road accidents
If a serious road accident has occurred due to a motor vehicle and the matter has escalated to the level of police investigation or criminal court, then it cannot be dealt with by keeping it in the category of a simple challan. In such sensitive cases, further judicial action is decided only after closely studying the condition of the victim, the magnitude of the accident and other legal provisions. Therefore, in every accident related case, it is completely baseless to assume that the fine will be waived off instantly through the Lok Adalat.
Cases of dangerous driving and stunting
Driving vehicles at blind speed on public roads, performing reckless stunts or directly endangering the lives of other pedestrians comes under the category of serious crimes in the eyes of the law. Strict action is also taken by the traffic police against excessive speeding (overspeeding), especially when it poses a major risk to the safety of common citizens on the road. Whether relief will be given in all these scenarios depends entirely on the nature of the crime. This is why every overspending challan cannot be weighed in the same scale.
Vehicles involved in criminal activities
If a vehicle has been used directly or indirectly in any criminal activity and there is a formal case going on in the police or court in that regard, then it is viewed from a completely different perspective from other normal traffic challans. Such complex cases do not automatically end just by reaching the platform of Lok Adalat. In this, the current status of the original criminal case and court instructions matter the most.
In which cases relief can be given?
On the other hand, some select and general nature of traffic challans can be easily settled through Lok Adalat. These mainly include cases related to driving without helmet or seat belt, parking vehicle in no-parking zone and some other minor rule violations. However, here too it is not necessary that the penalty of every challan is reduced or it is completely rejected, it depends on the discretion of the court.