India, March 12 -- All traffic commissionerates in Maharashtra have been directed to ensure that their officers behave courteously with motorists and don't coerce them into clearing pending e-challans.

Only courts can confiscate vehicles in cases of non-payment of pending fines, the circular issued by Maharashtra's Additional Director General of Police (ADG) (Traffic) on March 4 clarified, and directed the traffic police to take disciplinary action against officers who fail to follow instructions.

The circular was issued pursuant to a meeting held on March 2 under the chairmanship of transport minister Pratap Sarnaik. During the meeting, which coincided with a nationwide transports' strike, representatives of various transporter associa...