Gujarat High Court Designates 20 Virtual Traffic Courts For E-Challans Statewide

The Gujarat High Court on Friday designated 20 Courts of Judicial Magistrates across the State as Virtual Traffic Courts for handling traffic e-Challans originating from anywhere in Gujarat. Acting Chief Justice Ashish J. Desai issued a Circular on Friday, providing guidance and direction for this initiative.

The circular informed that a recommendation was sent to the Government of Gujarat, proposing the designation of several Courts of Judicial Magistrates situated in different parts of the State to function as Virtual Traffic Courts. In response, the government has notified 20 Courts of Judicial Magistrate First Class, in addition to the existing one in Ahmedabad.

The circular further informed that with this launch of 20 Virtual Traffic Courts spread across the State, having relatively less number of other cases pending there at, traffic eChallans would be processed with further expediency by the respective Virtual Traffic Courts.

With the benefit of remote mode of working of Virtual Courts, as implemented by the eCommittee of the Supreme Court of India, more beneficial and optimal utilization of judicial resources will be achieved, the circular stated.

As per the directions of the Acting Chief Justice, the traffic eChallans received by the Virtual Traffic Court server will be allocated daily from the High Court's IT Cell to these 20 Virtual Traffic Courts. The Courts will then proceed with adjudication on the fine/penalty amount from their respective locations. However, if a traffic violator chooses to contest the eChallans, the case will be automatically transferred to the jurisdictional Court where the violation occurred.

This is an important step towards the goal of breaking the geographical barriers in providing speedier access and delivery of justice to the stakeholders.

Upon success of this novel mode of distribution of judicial work amongst the Courts relatively less burdened with arrears, it is intended to expand this model to other areas and types of cases as well, the circular mentioned.

The Virtual Traffic Court, which became operational on May 3, 2023, at the Metropolitan Magistrates Court in Ahmedabad, has already been successfully handling traffic e-Challans for the state of Gujarat. With the gradual implementation of the eChallan system in the remaining districts of the state, the number of traffic eChallans being transmitted to the Virtual Traffic Court is steadily increasing.

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