Court dismisses petition challenging e-challans issued under state-prescribed speed limits, reinforcing public safety over Central Government notifications.
In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court on July 17, 2026, dismissed a writ petition filed by Shaheen Siddiqui and others, challenging the enforcement of speed limits on the Yamuna Expressway, as prescribed by the state authorities. The Division Bench comprising Justices Saral Srivastava and Garima Prashad reinforced the state's authority to set and enforce speed limits, emphasizing public safety and the technical assessments required for such determinations.
The petitioners, operators of stage carriage buses on the Agra-Noida route, contested the validity of e-challans issued against them for exceeding a speed limit of 60 km/h, arguing that a Central Government notification allowed a higher maximum speed of 100 km/h on access-controlled expressways. They claimed the lower limit was illegal and violated Articles 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution, suggesting it imposed unreasonable restrictions on their business operations.
However, the court highlighted that Section 112 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, differentiates between maximum speeds set by the Central Government and the power of state authorities to prescribe specific limits for particular roads or areas in the interest of public safety. The court observed that the Yamuna Expressway's operational speed limits are determined by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) in coordination with traffic police, based on road safety and technical considerations like road nature, traffic density, and weather conditions.
The court further noted that the petitioners did not present any notification or order challenging the prescribed speed limit on the expressway. The judges asserted that the imposition of speed restrictions serves as a regulatory measure to ensure road safety and does not constitute an unreasonable infringement on business rights.
The court refused to issue a blanket order preventing future issuance of overspeeding e-challans, stating that such matters should be addressed individually, based on specific circumstances, and through statutory remedies under the Motor Vehicles Act if necessary.
This judgment underscores the balance between state authority and central regulations, prioritizing public safety and technical evaluations in determining operational speed limits.
Bottom line:-
Speed limits on expressways can be prescribed by the State Government or an authorized authority under Section 112(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, considering public safety and technical assessments.
Statutory provision(s): Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 Section 112, Constitution of India, 1950 Articles 14 and 19(1)(g)
Shaheen Siddiqui v. State of U.P., (Allahabad)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2948488
