Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Hyderabad Traffic Cops Barred From Using Private Phones
Traffic officers in Hyderabad have been taking pictures of traffic violations with their own phones.
Government instructions say they should not use personal phones for this job.
A rule says devices used to issue traffic fines must be officially approved.
Some motorists are worried that fines may be issued using devices that are not certified.
One motorist said people were fined for parking briefly near buildings without parking areas.
A no-parking fine is now reported to be ₹1,000.
Telangana’s transport commissioner wants several departments to check and certify enforcement devices.
The Supreme Court of India has directed states to implement the device-approval rule.
The Hyderabad traffic police did not provide a clarification to the newspaper.
Hyderabad traffic personnel have reportedly used personal mobile phones to photograph violations and issue challans.
Government instructions prohibit using private devices for traffic-enforcement photography.
Rule 167A requires electronic enforcement devices used for challans to have approval certificates.
Motorist Devdas Sagar said fines were issued for brief parking near buildings without designated parking spaces.
The Telangana transport commissioner proposed a multi-departmental authority to certify devices and renew approvals annually.
- Who
- Hyderabad traffic personnel, motorists, the Telangana transport commissioner, and the Supreme Court of India are involved.
- What
- Traffic personnel have reportedly used private phones to photograph violations and issue challans, raising questions about compliance with device-approval requirements.
- When
- The Supreme Court of India issued relevant orders on September 2, 2024, and in October 2025; the reported phone use is described as ongoing.
- Where
- Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
- Why
- Rule 167A requires electronic enforcement devices used for challans to be approved and certified, while government instructions prohibit personal devices for this purpose.
Enforcement and compliance
Motorist and legality concerns
Use of enforcement devices
Enforcement and compliance
Traffic personnel need to document violations and issue challans, and Telangana has proposed a formal process to examine and certify enforcement devices.
Motorist and legality concerns
Motorists and critics question whether photographs taken with uncertified personal phones can legally support challans.
Parking enforcement
Enforcement and compliance
Traffic rules are being enforced, including no-parking violations carrying a reported ₹1,000 fine.
Motorist and legality concerns
Motorist Devdas Sagar said people were fined for parking briefly near buildings that lacked designated parking spaces.
- Reported practice
- Traffic personnel have reportedly used personal mobile phones to photograph violations.
- Relevant rule
- Rule 167A of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules requires approval certificates for electronic enforcement devices.
- Reported no-parking fine
- ₹1,000
- Proposed authority
- The Telangana transport commissioner proposed a multi-departmental body to examine and certify devices.
- Approval renewal
- The proposed authority would renew device approval certificates annually.
- Supreme Court orders
- Orders were issued on September 2, 2024, and in October 2025 to implement Rule 167A.