Use of RTI to teach corrupt Traffic Police

[skmishra1970]

Dear Member of this forum,

No doubt that RTI Act is a powerfull weapon to fight against Corruption and Injustice. The preamble of Act also state - "in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority"

But nobody has discussed this issue - How we should use RTI against corrupt Traffic Police (TP) who is taking bribe almost all over India and almost all light / traffic point.

One more thing which I have noticed that - when anybody driving on road, if there are some mistake by driver, TP will come and ask for the bribe, if you have paid than ok if not paid, you will be challaned. Challan is also ok on the side of law, but when you will argue something they will add one more offence - MISBEHAVIOR on the challan receipt. At the traffic point, TP is treating itself as a BOSS and due to non payment of bribe, or asking for any other citizen rights they (TP) will add too many offence on challan receipt.

Members are requested to please discuss on this issue - How we should use RTI to fight against that corrupt TP and teach them a lession of law. Because fighting of challan before the Magistrate will take too much time. It is our bad judicial system who deliver justice when its utility is over.

[K C S Kutty]

Sponsorer

Even without the help of RTI one can fight against corruption.
In most cases of traffic offences, the driver is at fault. As said in the above post, even a "small mistake" of
driver can make BIG loss and inconvenience for self and others.
It is better to obey the traffic rules first for safety of self and all other road users.
For any penalty paid, obtain a valid receipt.
Many a time, the offender himself is bribing the traffic cop. If any traffic cop is asking for bribe
or making false charges, one can approach his superiors and make a written complaint.
After filing the complaint, if no action is taken then one can use RTI for getting the information on action taken
or reasons for not taking action.

[skmishra1970]

Dear Kutti Ji,

You are right. In most cases drivers violating traffic rules and Traffic Police must challaned that driver, and any driver who realised his mistake / violation should politely get his vehicle challned. But there are some cases where Traffic Police issuing challan without any offence / violations and only for MISBEHAVIOR, what is that - peoples are driving on the road, they have stoped his vehicle and misbehave with TP unnecessary for that TP has cut challan marking MISBEHAVIOR. I am talking about such challans by TP which they marked as additional which is actually not done by driver.

Although you are right saying - make a complaint to senior of that TP and follow progress on complaint through RTI.

Thanks again.

[Yogi M. P. Singh]

Hon'ble member. First I want to congratulate you for raising such an important issue widely discussed at various level but unfortunately no concrete consequent. Now we have instrument like R.T.I. Act 2005 which proved to be excellent in curbing corruption from various public offices. Hon'ble friends some draconian laws have been enacted by state governments in order to keep the vehicle owner under pressure. For example, we talk of poor auto-driver who buys auto-rickshaw on loan payable on monthly instalement basis. He has to carry not more than three passengers according to permit. Poor driver is law-abiding and following the norms setup by the government department. There is another tampo driver not following any rules only paying the monthly payment decided by police outposts incharge and there is no restriction of passengers. Here this question arises that who will survive? Whether Honest autorickshaw driver will survive in such circumstances or he can fight against corrupt system which already decides monthly bribe of each incharge of police stations before giving the charge of police station to any subinspector. Hon'ble friends, we are struggling against the stranglehold of corruption of the system through our excellent weapon R.T.I. Act 2005 but it will take time.

[dr.s.malhotra]

Can any authority , other than the Magistrate , waive off the fine incorrectly imposed in the issued challan ?