What began as a seemingly minor fare dispute between a Haryana policewoman and a Rajasthan Roadways bus conductor has escalated into a full-fledged confrontation between the two states. The disagreement has triggered a “challan war,” with Rajasthan and Haryana police slapping fines on each other’s state-run buses, intensifying tensions.
The tussle began after a viral video emerged, showing a Haryana woman constable traveling without a ticket on a Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) bus. In the video, the conductor is seen insisting she buy a ticket, while the constable argues that, as a police officer, she is entitled to free travel on state transport within Haryana. The conductor disagreed, asserting that such exemptions are not valid in Rajasthan. When the constable refused to pay the fare, the conductor halted the bus mid-route and issued a challan (penalty) against her.
This incident, recorded and widely shared on social media, sparked outrage among Haryana authorities. Haryana Police responded by penalizing 90 Rajasthan Roadways buses, citing various reasons, including missing pollution certificates, improper uniforms for drivers and conductors, and under-inflated tires. This sudden spate of fines created panic among Rajasthan Roadways operators, further souring relations between the two states.
In apparent retaliation, Rajasthan authorities imposed fines on 26 Haryana Roadways buses in a single day. Most of these penalties were issued at the Sindhi Camp bus stand and Sardwa Mod, where nine and 17 Haryana buses, respectively, were stopped and fined.
The confrontation has now taken on a broader dimension, with reports suggesting that even Delhi Police might have collaborated with Haryana in issuing challans to Rajasthan buses passing through Delhi-NCR. Haryana police have maintained a strict vigil, imposing penalties on Rajasthan buses under various pretexts over the past two days, escalating the dispute further.
With tensions continuing to rise, the matter has now reached senior officials in both states. Rajasthan’s transport department has begun talks with Haryana authorities in an attempt to defuse the situation. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Roadways operators are on edge, fearing further fines and disruptions to services within Haryana.
This standoff, which began with a single fare dispute, has now snowballed into a larger inter-state issue.