Auto-debit of challans unconstitutional: MLC Sravan

Metro India News | Hyderabad

BRS leader and MLC Dasoju Sravan has strongly opposed the proposal to recover traffic challans through automatic debits from citizens’ bank accounts, calling it an infringement of fundamental rights. He demanded that this auto-debit proposal be withdrawn immediately, that only constitutional and lawful procedures be followed, and that the fundamental rights, privacy, and citizens property rights be fully respected.

The BRS leader argued that a challan is only an allegation and that the citizens must retain the right to explain, contest or appeal it before any coercive recovery is made.  Furthermore, RBI regulations and banking laws categorically prohibit debiting a bank account without the account holder’s explicit consent or a judicial directive. Banking is a subject under the Union List, and a state government has no legal authority to unilaterally impose such a system.

Implementation of auto-debit for challans would seriously undermine the fiduciary relationship between banks and customers and erode public trust in the banking system, he added. Sravan said automatic deductions could violate the constitutional protections under Articles 21 and 300A and raise serious privacy concerns. He demanded that the government withdraw the proposal and follow due legal process while respecting citizens’ privacy and property rights.