Telangana High Court Bars Vehicle Seizure in Drunk Driving Cases Issues Clear Guidelines to Police
Telangana High Court rules police cannot seize vehicles in drunk driving cases directs adherence to 2021 guidelines allowing safe handover to sober driver or relative instead of detention.
- Telangana High Court bars vehicle seizure in drunk driving cases
- Drunk driving rules allow safe handover instead of vehicle seizure
- Telangana High Court guidelines stress no detention of vehicles
The Telangana High Court has clarified that police do not have the authority to seize vehicles solely because a driver is found under the influence of alcohol. The court reiterated that stopping a drunk driver is necessary, but taking custody of the vehicle is not automatically justified.
The ruling came while hearing a case involving a vehicle owner whose Mahindra XUV500 was seized after it was allegedly driven by a person under the influence. The owner argued that the action violated earlier court directions, while police maintained that the driver had a history of similar offences.
After reviewing the matter, the High Court stated that the issue had already been settled through guidelines issued in 2021. It emphasized that enforcement must strictly follow those instructions rather than taking arbitrary action.
According to the guidelines, if a sober individual with a valid driving licence is present in the vehicle, they should be allowed to drive it away. In situations where no such person is available, police may move the vehicle to a safe location temporarily but must inform a relative or friend of the driver to take custody.
The court made it clear that vehicles should not be held indefinitely and must be handed over responsibly without unnecessary delay. This approach aims to balance road safety with legal rights of vehicle owners.
By reaffirming its earlier directions, the High Court has once again underlined that law enforcement must act within defined limits while handling drunk driving cases.
