1 day ago

Supreme Court Orders Restrictions for Vehicles With Unpaid Traffic Challans

Have an unpaid traffic challan? Here's what SC order means for your RC, licence renewal, PUC · livemint.com

The Supreme Court has told authorities to take stronger steps when drivers do not pay traffic fines.

Drivers with unpaid e-challans may be unable to complete some vehicle-related tasks online.

These include renewing a registration certificate or getting a fitness or pollution certificate.

Their vehicles may also be blocked from being sold or transferred.

In cases involving multiple violations, licence renewals may be stopped and existing licences may be suspended.

The court also said authorities should check vehicles and may impound one found to have an unpaid e-challan.

The directions are part of a road-safety case that began in 2012.

The court said issuing fines is not enough if the money is not collected.

Key facts

Outstanding e-challans: ₹49,194.05 crore
E-challans recovered: ₹26,175.05 crore
Services affected: Registration-certificate renewal or duplicate issuance, owner's address updates, fitness certificates and PUC certificates
Vehicle restrictions: Vehicles with outstanding e-challans are to be blacklisted on the Parivahan portal, restricting sale or transfer.
Licence measures: For multiple violations, authorities were directed to suspend licence renewal and take steps to suspend an existing licence.
Road-safety case: The directions are part of a case dating to 2012.
Rule cited: The article says amended Rule 21(25), brought into force in 2026, treats five or more offences or contraventions in a year as an act of nuisance or danger to the public.

livemint.com · 1 day ago