The Supreme Court has mandated stricter actions against vehicles with unpaid e-challans, including potential impounding.
The Supreme Court said online services for vehicles with unpaid traffic fines should be frozen. The court said authorities should block the transfer of ownership of vehicles with outstanding challans, potentially preventing owners from selling them. For multiple traffic violations, authorities should stop renewal of the driving licence and take steps to suspend licences that are currently valid, the bench said. “Let there be random checking of vehicles, and if it is found that the e-challan issued has not been abided or honoured, necessary steps shall be taken to impound the vehicle itself,” the court said.
NEW DELHI: Ignoring traffic challans could soon mean more than just an unpaid fine. The Supreme Court has directed states and Union territories to take stringent action against vehicles with pending e-challans, including impounding them and blocking several online services until the dues are cleared. The court directed authorities to carry out random checks and impound vehicles if they are found to have outstanding e-challans. Authorities should bar renewal of registration certificates (RCs), issuance of duplicate RCs and requests to update the owner’s address until pending fines are cleared. The court also directed authorities to deny fitness certificates to such vehicles and blacklist them on the Parivahan portal. The restrictions could also affect vehicle ownership transfers. The Supreme Court also called for action against repeat offenders.