Gurugram police will now register FIRs under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for wrong-side driving, replacing spot fines, with convictions potentially affecting job verifications
Police to Prosecute Wrong-Side Drivers with FIRs
Police will now prosecute wrong-side drivers in court by registering FIRs under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. This change replaces spot fines and may impact police verification reports for government jobs and security clearances, officials said on Saturday.
Details of the New Enforcement
Police state that FIRs and convictions will be recorded permanently. This ends the option to settle violations through challans or Lok Adalats.
Offenders caught driving on the wrong side on highways, expressways, or city roads will be booked under sections 125 and 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Section 125 deals with acts endangering life or personal safety, carrying a penalty of three months’ imprisonment or a fine of ₹2,500, or both. Section 281 covers rash driving on a public way, attracting up to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of ₹1,000, or both.
Implementation Timeline
The decision was made by Gurugram police on January 2, making it the first district in Haryana to implement FIR-based action against wrong-side driving. Following this, Delhi police also began booking wrong-side drivers on January 3 after reviewing the Gurugram model.
Senior officials stated that chargesheets will be filed in these cases. Offenders will face court trials, removing the option to settle violations by paying fines on the spot, through virtual courts, or in Lok Adalats.
Consequences for Offenders
Sandeep Turan, public relations officer of Gurugram police, noted that a conviction could have long-term effects for offenders. “Once FIR is registered and in case of conviction by court, it is going to make things tough for anyone aspiring for a government job,” he said.
Awareness Programs and Initial Phase
Officials mentioned that awareness programs are being conducted among residents and transport unions. After two weeks, FIR-based enforcement will start on Golf Course Road, the Delhi-Jaipur expressway, Dwarka expressway, Sohna Road, and MG Road, before expanding to other city roads.
Police Statement on Safety
Gurugram police commissioner Vikas Kumar Arora stated that this step aims to act as a strong deterrent. “Their act to save a few minutes by driving in the wrong direction poses a grave danger to the lives of other commuters,” he said. DCP (traffic) Rajesh Kumar Mohan will lead the drive, while ACP (traffic headquarters) Satyapal Yadav will monitor its implementation.
Statistics on Wrong-Side Driving
Mohan reported that 203,936 challans were issued for wrong-side driving in 2025, compared to 182,781 in 2024. The figure was much lower in 2023. “Till now, first-time offenders were fined ₹500 and repeat offenders ₹1,500 under the Motor Vehicle Act. Now, with FIRs, violators will face court trials,” he said.
Daily Enforcement and Hotspots
Traffic police officials noted that at least 560 offenders are caught daily, largely through cameras and ground teams. About 65% of challans are camera-generated. Twenty-eight hotspots have been identified, including the Dwarka expressway surface road, stretches of the Delhi-Jaipur expressway, Sohna Road, and MG Road.
