Kerala HC pauses AI traffic camera payments for now

Kerala Transport Department implemented Automated Traffic Enforcement System for Safe Kerala, under which AI-enabled cameras have been installed across the state which has been capturing traffic violations and levying penalty for all registered violations for over the last one month. The department had started the process for levying fines for the traffic violations recorded by the AI-enabled cameras from 5 June.

Posting the case to 13 July, the division bench of Chief Justice SV Bhatti and Justice Basant Balaji said: “We are convinced that the PIL needs to be examined from the perspective of change in the dynamics of implementation of the project, whether the change is objective, bona fide or vitiated by any of the collateral reasons now stated in the petition. In other words, with the change of module from BOOT to the annuity, whether the exchequer is directly or indirectly made to part with more than what has been envisaged in the beginning.’’