Bihar Government Orders Removal of Caste Stickers from Vehicles

The Bihar government has ordered vehicle owners to remove caste-related words, slogans, and stickers from their vehicles within one month, with fines of up to Rs 2,000 for non-compliance under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Transport Department has warned that traffic police will begin a state-wide enforcement drive with strict vehicle checks after the deadline.

The order is seen as an attempt to discourage the display of caste-related stickers on public roads, a common practice in many parts of India.

In addition to the removal of caste stickers, the Bihar government is also rolling out a major technology upgrade for traffic enforcement, including the installation of AI-powered cameras at 500 to 700 major intersections and accident-prone roads.

The cameras will detect traffic violations such as jumping red lights, speeding, and riding without helmets, and automatically generate e-challans for violators. The system may also include facial recognition features to identify repeat offenders.

The court has not been involved in this decision, but the Transport Department will oversee the implementation of the order. The state government will begin enforcing the order after the one-month deadline, with traffic police conducting strict vehicle checks and issuing fines to violators.