The Karnataka government’s 50% concession on traffic fines scheme has brought to light 1,656 pending traffic cases in Mysuru, dating back over three decades. According to the District Legal Services Authority, 792 cases pertain to RTO east and 864 cases are related to Hunsur ARTO division, with a total fine amount of Rs 55.1 lakh pending from vehicle owners. The pending cases are related to various traffic violations, including running a vehicle in a no-permit region, lapse of registration certificate, defective number plate, and using high-beam light.
Regional Transport Officer C Vasanth confirmed that there are still cases undisposed of for decades, reasoning that it may be because the vehicle may not be in operation or is being used outside their jurisdiction, making it challenging to trace. Although reminders and notices have been served to the owners, they have failed to pay the fines. The authorities have blacklisted vehicles with pending cases, preventing further transactions due to the outstanding fines. However, activists have questioned why the department failed to develop a mechanism to verify the current status of the vehicles and their registered owners, and establish a transparent process for closing outdated and irrecoverable penalty records permanently.