Pending e-challan? Supreme Court blocks RC, fitness, PUC services until fines are paid
PTC Web Desk: The Supreme Court has directed states and Union Territories to take stricter action against motorists who fail to pay traffic fines, ordering authorities to block several vehicle-related services until outstanding e-challans are cleared.
A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan said merely issuing large numbers of e-challans would serve little purpose if authorities were unable to recover the fines.
The court directed authorities to freeze online vehicle services for vehicles with pending traffic fines. These restrictions will include renewal of registration certificates, issuance of duplicate registration certificates and requests for updating the owner's address.
Vehicles with unpaid e-challans will also be blacklisted on the central Parivahan portal, preventing their sale or transfer. Authorities have further been directed not to issue fitness certificates until all outstanding traffic fines are paid.
One of the significant directions concerns pollution certificates. The Supreme Court said no PUC centre should issue a Pollution Under Control certificate for a vehicle with pending traffic fines.
Driving licences may also face suspension
The court directed authorities to take action against repeat offenders. In cases involving multiple violations, renewal of the driving licence can be stopped, while steps must also be taken to suspend an existing licence.
The court was informed that around Rs 49,194.05 crore remained outstanding against e-challans issued over a period of time, while approximately Rs 26,175.05 crore had been recovered.
The bench stressed that electronic enforcement cannot stop at generating an e-challan and directed authorities to carry enforcement through to recovery.
It also ordered random vehicle checks. If a vehicle is found with an unpaid e-challan, authorities have been directed to take necessary steps, including impounding the vehicle where applicable.
States told to implement e-enforcement framework
The Supreme Court directed all states and Union Territories to immediately implement the Standard Operating Procedure prepared by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on October 28, 2025.
The directions relate to Section 136A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, read with Rule 167A of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules. The framework provides for electronic monitoring and enforcement using technologies such as speed cameras, CCTV cameras and speed guns.
States and UTs have been asked to notify e-enforcement locations and complete the procurement, deployment and calibration of enforcement equipment. The National Road Safety Board has been tasked with monitoring implementation.
The bench also took note of an amended Rule 21(25), brought into force in 2026, under which committing five or more offences or contraventions under the Motor Vehicles Act or Rules within one year constitutes an act of nuisance or danger to the public.
Delhi road-safety compliance under scrutiny
The court also questioned compliance with its earlier directions concerning pedestrian safety on Mathura Road near the Delhi High Court and the National Zoological Park.
The directions included functional pedestrian signals, synchronised red lights, speed-control measures and electronic enforcement.
The court directed the Delhi chief secretary to submit a compliance report and said that failure to comply could require the chief secretary to personally appear before the bench.
The judges also asked amicus curiae and senior advocate Gaurav Agrawal to prepare a comprehensive chart listing the directions issued in the case, the deadlines given, their current status and observations on implementation.
Action ordered against overloaded vehicles
The Supreme Court also addressed the issue of overloaded transport vehicles. It directed authorities to ensure that an overloaded vehicle does not proceed beyond the point where the violation is detected until the excess load is removed.
The proposed enforcement system includes integrating weigh-in-motion and weighbridge systems with toll-management and electronic enforcement platforms. The objective is to ensure that action cannot be avoided simply because a vehicle is registered in or travels into another state.
BMC asked for report on footpath policy
The bench also sought a detailed report from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on implementation of its Universal Footpath Policy introduced in May 2023.
The BMC informed the court that it was developing a geospatially mapped digital inventory of existing and missing footpaths and integrating it with its GIS platform and 3D city model.
The Supreme Court directed the civic body to submit a further report on the steps taken and emphasised adherence to the policy's implementation timelines.
The proceedings form part of the Supreme Court's continuing monitoring of road safety in S Rajaseekaran vs Union of India, a case that has been before the court since 2012.
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