Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government, in a bid to tighten enforcement against traffic violations, reiterated that vehicles without valid documents will not be allowed to ply on roads across the state.
The Transport Commissioner-cum-Chairman of the State Transport Authority (STA) has directed all Regional Transport Officers (RTOs), Additional RTOs, and enforcement personnel that strict action be implemented against violators with immediate effect.
In a letter, the Commissioner has instructed Transport department officials to seize vehicles operating without valid Registration Certificates (RC), Fitness Certificates (FC), permits, Registration Plates (RP), or other mandatory statutory compliances.
The Commissioner pointed out that allowing vehicles to continue operating without valid documents would be treated as a dereliction of duty on the part of enforcement officials.
The Commissioner further wrote that payment of a challan does not legalise the violation, or permit continued non-compliance with statutory requirements.
The directive cited a Supreme Court ruling in the Paramjit Bhasin & Others vs Union of India & Others case whereby the power of compounding cannot be exercised in a manner that allows the continuation of an offence.
Under Section 207 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, enforcement authorities are empowered to seize or detain vehicles found violating rules.
