Bihar tops list for e-challans in minor driving offences as Delhi barely registers a blip in 2 years

The e-challan data, entered by states into the portal, shows that Bihar issued the highest number of notices for allowing minors to drive vehicles, with 1,316 challans issued in 2023 and 2024. In stark contrast, Delhi recorded just 22 such notices, reported TOI,

The total fines for this offence across six states and Union Territories amounted to Rs 48 lakh, with 1,497 e-challans issued in the past two years.

In a written reply to Congress MP Neeraj Dangi, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari shared further details about the fines collected in these states.

According to the report, Bihar led the way with Rs 44.3 lakh, followed by Jammu and Kashmir at Rs 1.4 lakh, and Chhattisgarh at Rs 1.3 lakh. Uttarakhand saw fines of just over Rs 1 lakh for 22 challans, while Uttar Pradesh only recorded one e-challan with a fine of Rs 23,150.

Under the amended Motor Vehicles Act, vehicle owners, parents, or guardians can be held liable for allowing minors to drive, facing penalties, jail time, or vehicle registration cancellation. The burden of proof rests on them to show that the minor acted without their knowledge.

Addressing the issue of accidents caused by minor drivers, Gadkari stated that 11,890 such cases were recorded over the last two years in the Integrated Road Accidents Data (iRAD) system, with Tamil Nadu leading with 2,063 cases, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.