Have you received a wrong e-Challan on your name? Were you mistakenly fined? Or maybe you weren’t the real offender? Whatever be the case, if you think that you’ve been fined wrongly, you can now challenge the challan for verification. Here’s how you can avoid paying e-Challan by filing grievance online.
Also, read- Detect Potholes in India, Get Alerts on Your Phone While Driving
Avoid Paying e-Challan by Filing Grievance
After receiving multiple complaints, Delhi Police has now started a procedure to verify e-challans claimed to be issued wrongly by the vehicle owners. Once you get fined by the traffic police, you’ll get an SMS on your registered mobile number with the offence details. You can then choose to either the pay the fine or challenge the fine and plead guilty.
A wrong challan can be challenged virtually, directly from the web portal instead of going to the court. Follow the steps below to challenge your Delhi Police traffic challan.
Also, Read | 5 Ways to Check Your Traffic Challans in India
- Open your browser and head to https://delhitrafficpolice.nic.in/notice/pay-notice.
- Here, either enter your vehicle number or mobile number.
- On the next screen, enter the OTP received on your phone.
- You’ll now see all the challans issued to you including the offence date, image, notice, and amount.
- Besides, you can also see the links to pay challan and apply for grievance.
- Click on Apply below Grievance for the challan that you want to challenge.
- Then, enter the grievance details asked. Enter OTP and click on Submit.
- Next, select the reason for challenging the challan, say, your registration number plate is not matching the image on the portal, someone was using a fake number plate or if your vehicle has been stolen.
- Finally, click on Submit to file the grievance.
Once you file the grievance, it will be checked and verified whether your claim is correct. If it’s found that you are not the offender or have been fined wrongly, the challan will be lifted off.
Tips to Avoid a Challan or Harrasment from Traffic Police
A lot has to be taken care of while driving on Indian roads. Below are some general tips that will help you avoid challans and unnecessary harrasment.
- Always be conscious about traffic laws. Drive under the speed limit, especially in areas with speed cameras.
- You can refuse to show documents to constables or anyone below the rank of ASI.
- You can either show physical documents or digital copy on DigiLocker or mParivahan app- both are legal.
- Only an asst. sub-inspector, police sub-inspector and police inspector are authorised to issue receipt and collect payment.
- Constables or Head Constables cannot issue a challan, they can only record the violation.
- If Constable threatens you for an spot fine, request for a receipt. They’ll likely let you go as they aren’t authorised for it.
- Traffic police can only issue challans if they’re carrying a challan book or E-challan machine with them.
- Always check the challan slip before paying any spot challan- it will contain the exact challan amount, offence, date, police offer’s name and signature, etc.
- No police officer can seize your vehicle without issuing a valid receipt.
- Traffic Police cannot take your keys forcefully or force you to get out of the vehicle. It is illegal.
- It is illegal for a tow truck to tow a car if any human is inside.
- Turban-wearing Sikhs cannot be fined for not wearing a helmet.
- You can always ask a traffic cop who pulls you over to present his/ her identity to you. Note down their buckle number or name or ask them for their ID card. If they refuse, you can also refuse them to produce your documents.
- In case of non-availability of documents, you get a grace period of 15 days to produce them acc. to Rule 139 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules.
Wrapping Up
So, this was a quick guide on how you can avoid paying a wrongly fined e-Challan by filing grievance. We’ve also mentioned some general awareness tips on how you can avoid challan or harassment from traffic police. Please note that this article does not constitute legal advice. That said, do let us know if you have any related doubts or queries.
Also, read- Green Delhi App: How to Use it to Report Pollution & Bad Roads in Delhi
