Unpaid traffic challans? SC eyes tougher recovery:Link fines to electricity bills, block RC renewals

The Supreme Court on Monday suggested that unpaid traffic challans could be linked to electricity bills to improve recovery of fines. A Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan said issuing e-challans was not enough, and authorities must ensure the fines are recovered. States and UTs have around ₹45,000 crore in unpaid e-challans, of which about ₹25,000 crore has been recovered. The Court also suggested: 1. Blocking vehicle registration renewals, ownership transfers and duplicate RCs until challans are cleared. 2. Blacklisting vehicles with unpaid fines on the Parivahan portal. 3. Withholding fitness and PUC certificates. 4. Blocking renewal of driving licences and considering suspension of existing licences. 5. Conducting random vehicle checks and impounding vehicles with unpaid challans. Warns of making on-ground changes, not just on paper The Court said authorities must ensure its directions are implemented on the ground, not merely recorded on paper. The matter is part of a 2012 road-safety PIL filed by Coimbatore-based orthopaedic surgeon S Rajaseekaran. The Court asked amicus curiae Senior Advocate Gaurav Agarwal to prepare a report showing its directions, deadlines and current implementation status. ​