Supreme Court orders automatic challans for uninsured vehicles using cameras as over 50% are found uninsured

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that cameras installed on highways and roads be used to identify uninsured vehicles and issue them automatic challans. A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra passed the direction after finding that a large number of vehicles ply on Indian roads without valid insurance, a TOI report stated.

The order aims to use camera infrastructure already installed on highways to enforce compulsory vehicle insurance under Section 146 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Government data shows that 56% of vehicles on Indian roads remain uninsured. The court said this leaves accident victims without a quick way to get compensation.

The Supreme Court's Directive on uninsured vehicles

The bench pointed to Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras already deployed by the road transport ministry in certain states for catching offences such as speeding and red light jumping. It directed that these cameras now also be linked to insurance databases.


Also Read:SC proposes no fuel for uninsured vehicles, seeks tech-driven road safety overhaul

"ANPR cameras deployed on highways and roads are equipped with a mechanism to catch and penalise road safety violations such as high speed, red light jumping, driving on the wrong side of the road, etc. Carrying this forward and as already deployed by the MoRTH in certain states, ANPR cameras are to be integrated with data from the Insurance Information Bureau and the VAHAN portal for issuance of automatic e-challans to uninsured vehicles," the bench said.

On-Ground Verification for uninsured vehicles

Alongside the camera system, the court directed state traffic police to be given handheld devices or downloadable apps. These would be linked to data from the Insurance Information Bureau and the VAHAN portal, allowing police to verify a vehicle's insurance status on the spot. The bench said strict implementation of the law is needed to close the enforcement gap.

The Scale of the Problem

The bench noted that out of 30.4 crore registered vehicles in India, 16.5 crore remain uninsured, most of them two-wheelers. Government figures show that 22% of road accidents involve vehicles without insurance.

Punishment Under Law

The Motor Vehicles Act already punishes people who drive or allow others to drive an uninsured vehicle. A first offence carries up to three months in jail, a fine of Rs 2,000, or both. A repeat offence carries up to three months in jail, a fine of Rs 4,000, or both. The new camera-based challan system is meant to make this existing law enforceable on the ground.

Other Measures Suggested

The bench also asked the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority to explore linking fuel supply to insurance status, so that uninsured vehicles could be refused fuel at petrol pumps. It said this system, too, could use cameras for identification, and that the petroleum ministry has no objection in principle.