The police officials are meeting tomorrow to work out the modalities on how to go about it, it is learnt.

It is believed that it may be a step in the right direction and it might cut down on accidents. Residents question what if the cop challans a motorist and the latter claims that he was not using a cellular phone. Also, would it be possible to detect the offences from outside especially if he is committing these shuttled in his air-conditioned car with not-quite transparent glasses? Moreover, the offending driver will be driving at quite a speed. Would it be possible for the police to notice him and then chase him down?

Traffic Superintendent of Police Balbir Singh disagrees that police will face any difficulties in executing the orders. "Our personnel will be vigilant," he says. "As about the evidence, we trust our officers; if they say that the offence was committed we'll deem it to be committed. On the other hand, if it is found that he had any mala fide intention, he would be taken to task." "And where is the need to chase them? The cops can take down the vehicle number and then mail him the challan slip," adds Traffic DSP S. S. Randhawa.

Says a marketing executive, Neerja Gulati: "This is a welcome step; but what if the driver throws the cigarette out of the window by the time the cop reaches close to him."

A businessman, Sumedh Singh, says that he challenges cops to challan him. "First let them chase me driving at 70-plus; then how much time does it take to slide your cellphone set into the dashboard and kill the evidence."

The police officials, however, caution against such a "temerity". Says SP Balbir Singh: "Violation of the directives would not only attract penalty but would also amount to contempt of court."

`None to be spared'
Even as there are cellular sets with headphones available in the market on which you need not hold the set while talking, the police will call this as an offence. "The UT police will challan motorists for talking on mobiles even if they are using headphones for the purpose," said Traffic SP Balbir Singh, adding that the court orders say that anybody talking on cellular phone while driving shall be challaned.