SC directs 23 states, 7 UTs to file compliance reports on Motor Act

Source : PTI | In a significant order, the Supreme Court on Monday directed 23 states and seven union territories to file compliance reports indicating implementation of the Motor Vehicle law’s recent provisions besides rules on electronic monitoring and road safety measures.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan noted five states and a UT – West Bengal, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Delhi – had filed their compliance reports.

The top court on September 2, 2024 passed directions on the implementation of Section 136A of the Motor Vehicles Act read with Rule 167A of the Motor Vehicles Rules which allow authorities to electronically monitor speeding vehicles.

The apex court panel would look into all aspects and provide its inputs which could be considered by the Centre in framing the standard operating procedure on electronic monitoring and enforcement of road safety measures, the bench said.

Senior advocate Gaurav Agrawal, assisting the bench as an amicus curiae, informed the bench that six states had filed their reports and the necessary directions may be passed with regard to them.

The bench said it would consider the aspect on March 25 and its panel on road safety, in the meantime, could seek assistance of the six states while deliberating upon the reports.

It directed the ministry of road transport and highways to circulate the order to all states and union territories for immediate compliance.

The bench said the state governments were required to install devices in high-risk corridors, major junctions, and cities with populations exceeding one million.

Devices such as body-worn cameras used by enforcement officials must notify offenders about ongoing recording, it said, and offenders will be issued electronic challans, complete with photographic evidence, date, time, and location stamps, apart from details of the violations.

The court, however, clarified electronic enforcement devices must not be used for surveillance purposes unrelated to traffic violations.

The Supreme Court committee on road safety was tasked by the bench to oversee the nationwide implementation of the measures.