SC Order on E-Challans Does Not Direct Linking Traffic Fines to Electricity Bills

October 1, 2026

New Delhi: The Supreme Court’s written order on the recovery of pending traffic e-challans does not include any direction to link unpaid traffic fines with electricity bills, clarifying that the suggestion made during the hearing was an oral observation and was not part of the order uploaded by the court.

A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan, while hearing a long-pending road safety matter, had suggested on Monday that authorities could explore linking unpaid traffic challans with electricity bills as a possible mechanism for recovering outstanding dues. However, the written order passed the same day and uploaded on Thursday does not contain such a direction.

SC Lists Measures to Recover Pending E-Challan Dues

The written order records several measures aimed at ensuring recovery of unpaid traffic fines. These include freezing online vehicle-related services and withholding the renewal or issuance of registration certificates and duplicate registration certificates until pending dues are cleared.

The court also directed authorities not to entertain requests for updating a vehicle owner’s address where traffic dues remain outstanding.

The Bench further directed that fitness certificates should not be issued until pending traffic fines are cleared. Vehicles with outstanding challans are to be blacklisted on the Parivahan portal, which would prevent their sale or transfer of ownership.

Licences, PUC Certificates Also Covered

In cases involving multiple traffic violations, the Supreme Court directed that driving licences should not be renewed and that steps should be taken to suspend licences that are already in force.

The court also said that no centre should issue a Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate until pending traffic dues are cleared.

It directed random checking of vehicles and said that where an e-challan issued against a vehicle has not been honoured, necessary steps should be taken to impound the vehicle.

₹49,194 Crore in E-Challan Dues Pending

The directions were issued in a long-running writ petition concerning the implementation of road-safety provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

The Supreme Court noted that it has been monitoring the matter for nearly 14 years, while the present Bench has been hearing it for more than a year.

According to the court, states and Union Territories have approximately ₹49,194.05 crore in outstanding e-challan dues, of which around ₹26,175.05 crore has been recovered so far.

The Bench stressed that simply issuing e-challans would not be sufficient unless authorities also have an effective mechanism to recover the fines.

States and UTs Asked to Follow Enforcement Procedure

The Supreme Court directed all states and Union Territories to implement the Standard Operating Procedure dated October 28, 2025, prepared by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

It also directed compliance with Section 136A of the Motor Vehicles Act read with Rule 167A of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.

The National Road Safety Board has been directed to monitor electronic enforcement.

The court also asked senior advocate and amicus curiae Gaurav Agrawal to prepare a chart detailing the directions issued in the matter, their implementation deadlines, current status and observations.

The matter has been listed for November 25 at 2 p.m.