Is Kashmir Ready for Online Challan for Traffic Violations?

Or Has the Traffic Police Adopted a ‘By Hook or By Crook’ Approach to Issuing Fines?

By: Javid Amin
The introduction of the online challan system for traffic violations in Kashmir has raised several questions. While the system aims to streamline traffic management and reduce the human element in traffic fine collections, many residents are skeptical. Is the region ready for such a shift? Is the system fair and transparent, or is it being misused to meet quotas and targets?

This article delves deep into the subject, exploring whether the current implementation of the online challan system is genuinely about improving road safety or simply becoming a new way to extract fines without accountability.

A Welcome Change or a Target-Based Approach?

With the rapid modernization of traffic management systems across India, the move toward online challans in Kashmir is a significant step. Ideally, this digital system should create a more efficient, transparent, and less corrupt traffic enforcement structure. However, as more and more people receive text messages informing them of fines they weren’t even aware of, questions are being raised.

Is the system working fairly? Or are traffic police in Kashmir pressured to issue fines at any cost—by hook or by crook?

Are Traffic Police Working on a Target-Based Model?

In recent times, many citizens in Kashmir have shared concerns about receiving fines for violations they were unaware of, raising the suspicion that traffic police may be under pressure to meet targets for issuing challans. These targets, if true, could be shifting the focus from improving road safety to meeting numerical quotas, which can result in unjust or fraudulent fines.

Common complaints include:

• Receiving fines for alleged violations that were not committed.
• Being fined based on photographs with no clear context or supporting evidence.
• Reports of corruption, where individuals who refused to pay bribes were fined later for fabricated violations.

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The Issue of Proof: Where’s the Evidence?

For common traffic violations like no crash helmet, no seatbelt, or wrong parking, a photograph can usually suffice as evidence. These violations are visible and straightforward. However, what about more complex offenses like overspeeding, rash driving, or even hit and run cases?

• Overspeeding: While speed cameras are used in many parts of India to record speed violations, there have been instances in Kashmir where fines for overspeeding were issued without the necessary video or radar evidence to back the claim. How can drivers contest these fines if there is no proof?
• Rash Driving: This is a subjective offense and requires context. A single photograph or even a brief video may not provide the full picture. In many cases, proper documentation of the event through continuous video footage would be necessary to fairly assess the situation.
• Hit & Run: Such serious offenses demand detailed investigation, witness statements, and often CCTV footage. However, with the advent of online challans, are we relying too much on technology while neglecting the need for thorough evidence collection in such cases?

Is Kashmir’s Infrastructure Ready for Online Challans?

While the idea of issuing online challans seems efficient, the current infrastructure in Kashmir may not yet be fully equipped to handle it fairly.

• Lack of Proper Surveillance Systems: Unlike metropolitan cities like Delhi or Mumbai, Kashmir still lacks an extensive network of speed cameras, CCTV surveillance, and automated traffic management systems. In the absence of such infrastructure, relying on manual or incomplete documentation by the traffic police increases the risk of errors and corruption.
• Dependence on Police Discretion: In many cases, traffic fines are issued solely based on the discretion of individual traffic officers. Without adequate checks and balances, this can lead to arbitrary challans being issued to meet targets, particularly if there are incentives or pressures within the department to issue a certain number of fines each day.

A System Open to Abuse?

The introduction of e-challans was meant to reduce corruption, but ironically, many citizens feel that it has opened new doors for misuse. Without the proper documentation and evidence, some traffic officers may use the system to punish drivers who don’t comply with their demands.

For instance, a driver who refuses to pay a bribe could easily be “challaned” later through the online system, as the officer simply needs to take a picture and assign a violation. This lack of oversight makes it challenging for drivers to contest their fines or seek justice.

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The Need for Stronger Evidence in Traffic Violations

The biggest concern surrounding the online challan system in Kashmir is the lack of concrete evidence in many cases. While some offenses are straightforward to document (like not wearing a seatbelt or wrong parking), others are far more complex.

Without proper video evidence or witness testimonies, how can drivers defend themselves against accusations of rash driving or overspeeding? In an ideal system, dashcams, radar guns, and speed cameras would be used to document these offenses, leaving no room for doubt.

How to Ensure Fair Play: Steps for Improvement

If Kashmir is to adopt a fair and transparent online challan system, several measures must be implemented:

1. Introduction of Automated Speed Cameras: Installing speed cameras at strategic points on highways and in busy areas can ensure that overspeeding fines are based on accurate data rather than human discretion.
2. CCTV Surveillance: Expanding the CCTV network will help capture traffic violations like rash driving or hit-and-run incidents, providing clear video evidence that can be reviewed by both authorities and drivers if fines are contested.
3. Dashcams for Traffic Officers: Equipping traffic officers with body cams or dashcams can help document interactions with drivers, reducing the likelihood of corruption and ensuring that any fines issued are based on clear evidence.
4. Establishing a Transparent Appeal System: There should be a streamlined and accessible process for drivers to contest fines if they believe they have been unfairly issued. This process should include the ability to request evidence and present counter-evidence.
5. Awareness Campaigns: The traffic police should run public awareness campaigns to educate the public about how the online challan system works, how violations are documented, and what steps they can take if they wish to contest a fine.

Are Online Challans the Future of Traffic Management in Kashmir?

There is no doubt that digital transformation is inevitable in Kashmir, and the adoption of an online challan system could bring significant improvements to traffic management—if implemented properly. The key to success lies in transparency, accountability, and the use of technology to gather accurate data and evidence.

In cities where automated systems are already in place, online challans have proven to reduce traffic violations and bribery significantly. However, without the necessary infrastructure, Kashmir risks turning a well-intentioned system into a tool for unjust fines and arbitrary punishments.

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A Balanced Approach: Technology with Human Oversight

Rather than entirely depending on the online system, the traffic police in Kashmir should focus on balancing technology with human oversight. By combining advanced surveillance tools with fair, transparent law enforcement, they can ensure that the system is both effective and just.

Moreover, by fostering trust with the public, the authorities can encourage responsible driving without creating an environment of fear or resentment towards traffic enforcement.

Conclusion: Is Kashmir Ready for Online Challans?

The concept of online challans has great potential for improving traffic management in Kashmir. However, the current system lacks the necessary infrastructure, transparency, and oversight to function effectively.

To avoid turning this system into a tool for arbitrary fines and target-based enforcement, the government and traffic police must invest in technological upgrades—such as speed cameras, CCTV systems, and dashcams—and introduce clear guidelines for how evidence is collected and fines are issued.

Kashmir’s roads will be safer when the focus shifts from meeting fine quotas to promoting responsible driving and ensuring fair enforcement for all.