Scientist fined Rs1 for jumping red light

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 16

Probably for the first time the local court today imposed a token fine of Rs 1 on a scientist for jumping red light.

Dr Rajesh Sharma, a Mohali resident, who is a scientist in the US, and is at present residing here, was imposed the fine by the court. Sharma was challaned on January 25, this year, for jumping red light at the Sector 16/17 roundabout.

The traffic police had argued that Sharma had taken a left turn from the light point when there was a red light.

Sharma, however, filed an appeal against the challan and he himself argued the case in the court.

He argued that he was wrongly challaned by the traffic police. He stated that the Chandigarh Traffic Police website mentioned rule about left turn that “you can turn left on a red light if there is no signal for the left direction”.

He argued that in the absence of signal for left direction, left turn could be taken provided there was no pedestrian in the way.

Sharma had argued that the offence, violation of red light is not appropriate and the safe left turn should not be considered as violation of red light. He argued that he followed the standard rule which says that the driver should come to complete stop at the red light, see the pedestrians and oncoming traffic carefully and then turn left. The court on hearing the argument then pronounced its order and fined Sharma of Rs 1 for making a traffic violation.

Said cops wrongly challaned him

The traffic police had argued that Sharma had taken a left turn from the light point when there was a red light. Sharma, however, filed an appeal against the challan and he himself argued the case in the court. He argued that he was wrongly challaned by the traffic police.