One of my clients recently had a case which I am explaining below and if you are stuck in such similar situation, here is what to do.

Note: Due to attorney-client privilege, I cannot disclose complete case details or identify the actual parties involved. However, I am sharing the essential facts and legal approach so that if you find yourself in a similar situation, you can understand the available solutions and legal remedies.

Mr. X approached me with a peculiar issue regarding his vehicle registration number City A XX YYYY. On DD/MM/YYYY, his vehicle was caught speeding at 86 km/h in an 80 km/h zone in Area B through the Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS). While the challan was clearly visible on the ITMS portal with all violation details, the “Pay Now” button was mysteriously missing from the interface. Mr. X had checked multiple times on different devices and browsers, but the payment option remained unavailable. He was concerned about potential legal consequences of non-payment despite his willingness to settle the fine. The challan showed proper violation details but lacked any digital payment gateway integration, leaving him in a legal limbo.

Advice in Such Cases

Consult with Lawyer: The very basic and important step to start is talk to Lawyer / advocate. You should not hesitate in paying his consultation fee i.e. might be in range of Rs. 10,000 to 50,000 depends case to case. He is helping you in this situation to come out. He is expert in the domain and can help you explain the procedure which you might have never explored. A good lawyer can get the issues resolved much faster than you think.

Visit the issuing traffic police station with the challan details and attempt manual payment. Contact the technical support team of the ITMS portal to report the system glitch. Keep documented evidence of your payment attempts including screenshots and communication records for future reference.

Applicable Sections of Law

This case primarily falls under motor vehicle violations as per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Under BNS Section 279 (rash or negligent driving), speeding violations are addressed. BNSS Section 173 covers the investigation and documentation of traffic violations. BNS Section 336 deals with acts endangering life or personal safety of others, which includes speed limit violations. The Motor Vehicles Act Section 183 specifically addresses penalties for disobedience to orders and obstruction, while Section 184 covers dangerous driving including overspeeding.

If You Are the Complainant

• File a formal complaint with the traffic police regarding the technical glitch preventing payment
• Document all evidence of the system malfunction with dated screenshots
• Request an alternative payment method from the concerned authority
• Obtain written acknowledgment of your payment attempt from officials
• Follow up regularly with both technical support and traffic department until resolution

If You Are the Victim

• Immediately take screenshots of the challan page showing missing payment option
• Contact the ITMS helpline and document your complaint reference number
• Visit the issuing police station with printed challan details for manual payment
• Maintain records of all communication attempts and responses received
• Consider filing an RTI application if authorities are unresponsive to your payment attempts

How the Police Behave in Such Cases

Traffic police typically acknowledge technical issues in digital systems and provide alternative payment methods. They usually direct violators to the nearest designated payment counter or suggest manual payment at the police station. However, some officers may initially show reluctance to accept responsibility for system failures, requiring persistent follow-up and proper documentation of the technical issue.

FAQs People Normally Have

• Can I be penalized if payment option is not available? No, you cannot be penalized for system failures beyond your control, provided you document your payment attempts.
• Will the fine amount increase due to technical delays? Generally, fine amounts don’t increase due to documented technical issues, but confirm with local authorities.
• Can I contest the challan due to payment system failure? Yes, system failures can be grounds for contesting enforcement actions while maintaining your payment willingness.
• What if the challan disappears from the portal? Keep screenshots as evidence and report the issue immediately to prevent future complications.

What Evidence Is Required?

• Screenshots of the challan page showing violation details but missing payment option
• Browser history and cache data proving multiple payment attempts
• Email communications with ITMS technical support team
• Complaint reference numbers from helpline calls
• Vehicle registration certificate and driver’s license copies
• Bank account statements showing readiness to pay
• Written acknowledgments from traffic police officials regarding system issues

How Long Will the Investigation Take?

Technical issues with payment portals are usually resolved within 7-15 days. However, if the matter escalates to formal complaints, resolution may take 30-45 days. Manual payment processing at police stations typically takes 1-2 days. System-wide portal updates or maintenance may extend timelines to 2-3 weeks depending on the technical complexity involved.

Advocate Sudhir Rao, Supreme Court of India