BENGALURU:
In a recent ruling, the Karnataka High Court has affirmed that only the court has the authority to determine the amount of fines for traffic violations. This decision upholds a circular issued by the office of the Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic Division, which prohibits traffic police from collecting fines directly from offenders.
The case in question involved K.R. Nataraju, who sought to dismiss the charge sheet against him for refusing to pay a fine for not wearing a helmet and obstructing a government officer’s duty through the use of force. Nataraju, a resident of Subhash Nagar in KR Pete, filed a petition, and Justice Hemant Chandan Gowder granted their request.
Additionally, the court emphasized the importance of recording vehicle inspections through video footage. Any individual who assaults a police officer must be apprehended, and the police station responsible for the area should be notified to ensure the accused is taken into custody. Failure to follow these procedures, the court clarified, would make it difficult to prove a case of obstructing a government official’s duties through assault and force.
Furthermore, the High Court determined that the police had not adhered to any of these guidelines or regulations when registering a case against KT Nataraju. As a result, the court dismissed the charges against him.
