Wrong-Side Driving in Delhi Can Now Lead to FIR and Jail, Not Just a Challan

CT Team 2 min read January 9, 2026 at 10:00 am

Driving on the wrong side of the road in Delhi can now land a person in serious legal trouble. It is no longer limited to paying a traffic challan. The Delhi Police have started registering FIRs against wrong-side drivers in certain serious cases.

This marks a major shift in how traffic violations are being handled in the national capital.

FIRs already registered

Recently, Delhi Police registered at least two FIRs for wrong-side driving. One case was recorded at Delhi Cantonment police station on January 3, while another was registered at Kapashera police station. In the Kapashera case, the driver admitted that he was driving on the wrong side to avoid traffic congestion.

Both cases were booked under Section 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which deals with rash or dangerous driving on public roads, along with relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act.

What punishment can offenders face?

So far, wrong-side driving usually resulted in a fine of ₹5,000. However, once an FIR is registered under Section 281 of the BNS, the consequences become much more serious:

Imprisonment of up to six months, or
A fine of ₹1,000, or
Both imprisonment and fine
Seizure of the vehicle

Although the offence is bailable, the process is lengthy. The accused must visit the police station and court to obtain bail and to get the vehicle released.

Is this going to happen in every case?

Police officials have clarified that FIRs will not be registered in every instance of wrong-side driving. This step is mainly meant as a deterrent. FIRs are likely to be filed when:

The road has heavy traffic, or
The driver’s action poses a serious risk to public safety

In such situations, traffic officers have been instructed to take strict action.

Why is Delhi Police taking this step?

Wrong-side driving has increased sharply in Delhi over the past few years. In 2025 alone, more than 3 lakh cases of wrong-side driving were reported. Compared to 2024, both violations and enforcement actions have risen significantly.

Police believe stricter measures are necessary to reduce reckless behaviour and prevent accidents on Delhi’s busy roads.