The Supreme Court has suggested that States and Union Territories consider linking unpaid traffic challans with electricity bills as a possible measure to recover outstanding e-challan fines.
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The suggestion was made by a Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan while hearing proceedings related to electronic enforcement of traffic violations and recovery of unpaid e-challan dues.
Supreme Court Focuses on Recovery of Unpaid Challans
The Court observed that merely issuing large numbers of e-challans would not be sufficient if the fines were not ultimately recovered. It emphasised the need for authorities to develop practical mechanisms for collecting outstanding penalties.
The Court suggested that unpaid traffic fines could potentially be added to electricity dues, creating an additional mechanism to encourage defaulters to clear their pending challans.
However, the electricity-bill linkage was discussed as a suggestion by the Court and not as an order currently in force.
Around ₹45,000 Crore in E-Challan Dues
During the proceedings, the Supreme Court was informed that States and Union Territories have around ₹45,000 crore in e-challan fines to be recovered, with approximately ₹25,000 crore already recovered.
Against this backdrop, the Court discussed several possible measures to improve recovery of unpaid traffic penalties.
Vehicle Services Could Face Restrictions
The measures discussed included restricting the renewal of vehicle registration certificates, changes in ownership details and issuance of duplicate certificates until outstanding challans are cleared.
The Court also discussed blacklisting vehicles with unpaid challans on the Parivahan portal, blocking ownership transfers and withholding fitness and Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates. Restrictions on driving licence renewals and possible suspension of existing licences were also discussed.
