by JRK
Motor Vehicle Act 2019 – It Is Not All About Fines
CAG draft report has held that rate of crime in Odisha did not go down despite “persistent flow of funds” from the Centre to modernize the police forces. Odisha received Rs.135.32 crores between 2016 and 2019 under the centrally-sponsored sub-scheme of modernization of police forces. Someone in the top decided not to transform it to an unfriendly police force and so only 80 crores were spent. A professional police force does not talk tough inside the thana but acts tough in combat place with crime.
An average of crimes reported 2015, 2016 and 2017 – the increase manifests in murder, robbery, rape and accidents. The govt. felt that the situation is not alarming as the crime rate is 250-260 per one lac population as against all-India average of 720. But the matter of grave concern is the conviction rate which is 10.4% – second-lowest among all States.
The amended Motor Vehicle Act came into force on 1st, September with steep hike in fines. Our police force saw it as a golden opportunity to be among the top police force among its peers at all-India level in revenue collection and redeem the reputation which had taken a beating. From the early morning of 1st, September, the police was visible in busy thoroughfares in all cities and small towns. They made headlines in national media – out of 5 top fines imposed, 3 were from Odisha. But they miscalculated a little bit – one can pigeonhole a pocket but once you tear it apart, it can be counter-productive. The meek middle-class made muted protest at Raj Mahal Square. Police collected Rs. 89 lacs in a very short time span – it is just a notional figure – because one never knows how much is realizable.
The road accidents have been on the rise in the state. There were 5315 accidental deaths in Odisha in 2018, while there have already been 2532 accidental deaths in January-May’ 2019. The Supreme Court Committee on road safety have expressed displeasure over worsening road safety scenario in Odisha.
But accidents do not usually happen in the main thoroughfares of the city. There have been hardly 10 accidental deaths in Janpath or Rajpath of Bhubaneswar during last 5 years which runs parallel over a stretch of about 10 kms. There were about one thousand police force engaged for catching traffic rule violators while more than one thousand serious criminal cases are pending for investigation for more than one year in several police stations in Bhubaneswar.
The most accidents do happen in National and State Highways. Our Puri-Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur-Sohela, Manguli-Sambalpur, Jaleswar-Icchapuram and Sambalpur-Rourkela stretch has claimed around 10 thousand fatalities in last 3 years, and most of them are from 15-45 years group. The traffic operation should have been launched in those stretches in the dead of the night and early morning hours to stop vehicles breezing past them with booze adrenaline. They could also have busted some criminal gangs who make their planning at Highway eating places. Does the police lack fire in the belly, firearms and fiery motivation to combat upfront?
There was the spectacle of one MLA and a senior official paying fine for parking in “No-parking” zone and it was touted as fearlessness of police. Frankly speaking, it was an unedifying sight. If the law-maker and law-enforcer do not know the law, how can the common mass? There is also a rule that, in case of RC Book, insurance papers and pollution certification are inadvertently not in the vehicle, then the police would impose notional penalty not to be paid immediately. The person would visit SHO within 7 days to get it withdrawn by producing the papers.
CM announced fine holiday for 3 months and promised to write to Centre. Is there any need for it? Roopani, CM of Gujrat and Modi protégé showed spunk and, slashed fines by 90%. It might also have been done to spite Gadkari who had taken potshots at Modiji in the past. Whatever it may be, Naveenji is well within his rights to take decision. In recent past, he won the hearts through his seductive finesse in the election. He has to understand the situation from a ground level, not a perspective from a higher pedestal of 3rd floor. The fines need to be calibrated retaining penalty at National Highways and other death traps while reducing it by 80-90% within city limit.
Steep fines look right in the backdrop of massive tolls in terms of lives, disabilities and the scars of the family members. But we have notoriety for giving bribe and accepting bribe. Nobody would want to go to jail jeopardizing their social standing and career and there would be underhand deals.
The Act has given a sound roadmap for revolutionizing the life of a road user. Hence the irritants of the hefty fines must not be allowed to cloud the positives.
(JRK is a Kolkata based Economic & Political Analyst)