In a sharp and aggressive rebuke, the Telangana High Court has come down heavily on police for illegally seizing vehicles in the name of drunk and drive enforcement, calling the practice unconstitutional and unjustified.
Justice Venugopal made it crystal clear
— police have NO authority to seize vehicles arbitrarily just because a driver is caught under the influence. The court warned that such actions are not only excessive but also cause unnecessary harassment to common citizens, with vehicles left to rot in police stations for months.
The court questioned the logic behind the practice
: 👉 If a driver is intoxicated, ensure the vehicle is safely parked or handed over, not dragged into police custody.
👉 Seizing vehicles under the pretext of enforcement is a gross misuse of power.
⚖️ Not a New Rule — But Police Still Ignoring It
🚗 Citizens Now Have Legal Backing The ruling empowers vehicle owners:
✔️ If your vehicle is seized unlawfully, you can challenge it in court
✔️ You can directly cite the High Court judgment to seek relief
The High Court made it clear that this is not a new directive. Similar orders were issued in the past, yet police on the ground have continued to flout the law, raising serious concerns about accountability and misuse of authority.
With this latest ruling, the judiciary has effectively put the police on notice — any further illegal seizures could invite legal consequences.
⚠️ No Excuse for Drunk Driving The court also made one thing absolutely clear —
This is NOT a free pass for drunk driving.
🚫 Driving under the influence remains a punishable offense
💰 Fines and legal penalties will still apply
But using that as an excuse to confiscate vehicles is unconstitutional, the court stressed.
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