INTRODUCTION :

Peoples’ participation in the regulatory activities of Traffic Police is a key to societal acceptance of traffic regulations that ensure efficient vehicular traffic and safety on the streets. Active involvement & cooperation of citizens is absolutely necessary to effectively manage traffic in the metropolis. The Traffic Warden Scheme of Mumbai Police aims at achieving this synergy through participative regulation of traffic.

OBJECTIVES OF TRAFFIC WARDEN SCHEME :

a) To promote peoples’ participation in regulation of Traffic with a view to ensure smooth movement of vehicular traffic.
b) To inculcate road - sense in motoring public and pedestrians and to promote complementary interaction. To promote and propagate the correct road attitude amongst citizens through mass contact and to develop community approach towards safety on the roads.
c) To prevail upon and persuade road - users from committing and repeating traffic violations.
d) To actively participate and assist the Traffic Police in managing vehicular and pedestrian movements on special occasions.
e) To render assistance at the accident sites.

DETAILS OF THE SCHEME :

The Traffic Wardens are purely voluntary associates of Mumbai Traffic Police which function under the control of the Commissioner of Police, Greater Mumbai. The persons enlisted in this scheme are called "Traffic Wardens. (“Vahatuk Rakshak" in Marathi). The Traffic Warden is not entitled to any salary, allowance, or payment in any form whatsoever, either in cash or kind for performing a voluntary role as a Traffic Warden, or for attending any training or event. The Traffic Wardens are also required to purchase specified arm band, beret etc. as per (Appendix A) from his/her own funds.

POWERS AND DUTIES :

a) The Traffic Wardens do not have any statutory powers.
b) Every Traffic Warden shall be required to undergo a short course of training. Fixed duty hours and location shall be given (as far as possible) as per the convenience of the Traffic Warden.
c) It is expected that a Traffic Warden would work at least for a period of 4 hours per week in tandem with the officers/men of the Traffic Branch.
d) The warden shall assist Traffic Police and perform the duties related to regulation and control of traffic at the behest of the Commissioner of Police, Greater Mumbai, or his nominee.

ENLISTMENT OF TRAFFIC WARDENS :

In order to be eligible for enlistment as Traffic Warden, a person shall
i) be a citizen of India;
be a resident of Mumbai or should have his/her business, profession, or trade in Mumbai;
ii) be willing to work as a Traffic Warden in the locality where he ordinarily resides;
iii) not be below the age of 21 years and should not have completed the age of the 45 years at the time of enlistment;
iv) be holding a valid motor driving license for at least preceding 3 years & should either be an owner/user of a motor vehicle.
v) Should have passed HSC and be able to read, write and speak Marathi, Hindi and English
vi) be physically fit;
viii) be willing and able to render voluntary and non-remunerative service to the Government and the society;
ix) be in position to purchase (at his/her own cost) the required equipment;
x) not have been convicted for or accused of any offence and especially an offence involving moral turpitude.
xi) not have been arrested for any offence by police;
xii) not have been proceeded against for any type of preventive action by any magistrate
xiii) not have had his/her motor driving license suspended by any court of Law or the competent authority.
xiv) not be an Officer or a Member of any regular or auxiliary military unit or essential service and should not be holding any honorary rank therein;
xv) not be a member/card holder of any political party or unions;
xvi) special consideration would be given for those who have had served in R.S.P. for a period of at least two years.

Any of the conditions mentioned in sub-rule (i) may be relaxed by the Selection Board, hereinafter described, if in its opinion there are sufficient grounds for making such relaxation.

APPLICATION FOR ENLISTMENT:-

Application for enlistment as Traffic Warden shall be made in the prescribed form (Appendix B). The same can also be obtained from any of the traffic chowkies in Mumbai. Duly filled in forms be sent on email id i.e jcptraffic@trafficpolicemumbai.org or sent by post/through courier to Jt.Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Mumbai, Traffic Police Headquarters, 87, Sir Pochkhanwala Road, Worli, Mumbai 400 030. After due scrutiny, Traffic Control Branch, Mumbai will direct the candidate to appear for the interview before the Selection Board. Traffic Control Branch reserves the right to accept or reject the applications on its discretion and no correspondence will be made in this behalf for rejected applications.

SELECTION BOARD :

1. The Selection Board will consist of following members;
a) Dy Commissioner of Police, HQ, Traffic Branch --Chairperson
i) One Asstt. Commissioner of Police, Traffic - member
ii) Two Police Inspectors from Traffic Branch - member
iii) One Sub-Inspector of Police, Traffic - member
iv) Any other person that the Board may co-opt.- member

2. The Selection Board shall hold meeting at such time and place as may be fixed by the Dy. Commissioner of Police, Traffic HQ , Mumbai.
3. No person shall be enlisted as a Traffic Warden unless he/she has been recommended for appointment by the Selection Board.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION :

If the Selection Board has doubts about the physical fitness of any candidate, it may require him/her to undergo a medical examination by the Police Surgeon, Mumbai before enlistment.

ENLISTMENT CERTIFICATE :
A person shall, on being enlisted as a Traffic Warden, will receive a certificate of enlistment.

APPLICANTS TO BEAR HIS/HER OWN EXPENSES :

No applicant shall be entitled to payment of any expense for appearing for any interview or for anything required to be done by him /her in connection with his/her application or enlistment.

TENURE AS TRAFFIC WARDEN :

A person enlisted as Traffic Warden shall ordinarily hold this post for a period of 3 years from the date of enlistment and will be eligible for renewal of enlistment by the Commissioner of Police, or his/her nominee, at his/ her discretion.

DISCIPLINE AND PUNISHMENT :

(1). BREACH OF DISCIPLINE :

It shall be breach of discipline for any member of the scheme;

i) To violate any rule and provision of the regulation of the scheme;
ii) To abuse his/her Official position;
iii) To participate in party politics;
iv) To supply any information concerning the Scheme/Traffic Police or to grant interview or voice opinion to any press correspondent without prior permission from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic (Hqrs) Mumbai;
v) To refuse to carry out Official Order of any Police Officer in general and the Traffic Officer in particular;
vi) To do anything which will bring or is likely to bring the scheme or Police Force in disrepute;

(2). PUNISHMENT :

The Dy. Commissioner of Police, Traffic(H.Q.), Mumbai, will be competent to suspend or expel any member of the Scheme for the breach of discipline and his/her decision will be final and binding. He shall also be competent to suspend or expel any member without assigning any reason in writing for such suspension or expulsion.

On suspension, for the period of the suspension and on expulsion, the Traffic Warden will cease to be the member of the Traffic Warden Scheme and if such a person is found using the badge / arm band, and the equipment shall be seized, irrespective of the fact that the said items were owned by such a person. This action shall be independent of any other legal action, which may be contemplated.

(3). POST ENLISTMENT DUTIES :

The performance of Traffic Wardens, after their enlistment, will be watched by Divisional Traffic Inspectors, who, in turn, shall submit a report to Jt. Commissioner, Traffic every month. Traffic Wardens, after enrolment is expected to report to Divisional P.I. and is liable to dismissal subject to his/her bad conduct / bad performance.

(4). AMENDMENTS :

The Commissioner of Police, will be competent to make further amendments to these regulations as and when necessary.