In a firm stand against underage driving, the Court of Special Mobile Magistrate (Traffic), Kashmir at Srinagar, presided over by Shabbir Ahmad Malik, has convicted a vehicle owner and guardian after a minor was found driving a motor vehicle in violation of traffic laws.

The accused, Mushtaq Ahmad Buch, son of Ghulam Mohammad Buch, resident of Sheshgari Mohalla, at present Ahmad Nagar, Srinagar, was proceeded against as the guardian and owner of the vehicle under Section 199-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which holds guardians legally responsible when traffic offences are committed by juveniles.
The challan was presented by Ms. Chasfeeda Shafi, Assistant Public Prosecutor for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, while the accused was represented by Advocate S. Tariq.
During the proceedings, the accused appeared before the court and pleaded guilty, opting not to contest the charge. After examining the circumstances and recording the plea, the court held the accused guilty of the offence.
While fixing punishment, the court imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 and ordered the cancellation of the vehicle’s registration for a period of twelve months.
The court as per the news agency Kashmri News Trust observed that the offence did not involve moral turpitude and noted that the accused had no prior criminal convictions. Taking into account his age and antecedents, the court held that the object of justice would be met by granting the benefit of probation under the Probation of Offenders Act instead of directing immediate imprisonment.
Accordingly, the accused was directed to execute a bond of Rs 2,00,000 for maintaining peace and good behaviour for a period of two years. The court made it clear that any violation of the bond conditions during this period would invite the execution of the punishment already fixed by the court, and the bond amount would be forfeited to the government.
In strong observations, Magistrate Shabbir Ahmad Malik referred to the alarming rise in road accident fatalities in the country and stressed that underage driving continues to be a major cause of preventable accidents. The court warned that allowing minors to operate vehicles endangers not only the juveniles themselves but also pedestrians and other road users.
Holding parents, guardians and educational institutions accountable, the court noted that permitting minors to drive produces “violators and victims, not responsible citizens.”
The court further directed that a copy of the judgment be forwarded to the Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department, Jammu and Kashmir, with instructions to circulate the order among government and private schools. It called for framing a “No Vehicle Policy for Minors” in educational institutions and directed the Traffic Police J&K to intensify special enforcement drives against underage driving.
The challan was accordingly disposed of on December 6, 2025.