The Supreme Court of India has proposed a significant and innovative measure to address the massive backlog of unpaid traffic fines across the country. In a recent observation, the apex court suggested that unpaid traffic e-challans should be linked to the electricity bills of the offenders, while the court reasoned that since electricity is an essential service that people are compelled to pay for to avoid disconnection, linking traffic fines to these bills would ensure a much higher rate of recovery. This suggestion comes as a response to the growing challenge of enforcing traffic penalties in the digital age.
The Challenge of E-Challan Recovery
Justice JB Pardiwala, while presiding over the matter, pointed out that merely issuing e-challans isn't an effective solution to traffic violations. He noted that while the police can issue hundreds of thousands of electronic tickets, the real challenge lies in the actual recovery of the fine amounts. The court was informed about the staggering scale of unpaid fines across various states and Union Territories, while according to the data presented, a total of 45000 crore rupees is yet to be recovered under the e-challan system. Out of the total penalties imposed, only 25000 crore rupees have been successfully collected so far, leaving a massive gap that needs to be bridged through stricter enforcement mechanisms.
Administrative Restrictions on Defaulters
The Supreme Court emphasized that authorities need to work at the grassroots level, keeping the ground reality in mind. Currently, after an e-challan is issued, it's often sent to a specific court for fine collection, where the individual is expected to appear and pay. To streamline this, the court suggested several administrative hurdles for those who fail to pay their fines. One major suggestion is to stop the renewal of the Registration Certificate (RC) for vehicles with pending challans, while Also, the court advised that the issuance of duplicate certificates should be halted, and any updates or renewals of owner information should be blocked until all outstanding dues are cleared. The court also stated that fitness certificates for vehicles shouldn't be issued unless all pending traffic challans are paid in full.
Blacklisting and Ownership Transfer Blocks
To further tighten the noose on traffic rule violators, the Supreme Court suggested that vehicles with unpaid fines should be blacklisted on the official Parivahan portal. This blacklisting would effectively prevent any ownership transfer of the vehicle, making it impossible for the owner to sell the car or bike until the penalties are settled. This measure is intended to ensure that the liability of the fine remains with the vehicle and its owner, preventing them from evading payment through a sale.
Impact on Driving Licenses and PUC Certificates
The court's suggestions also extended to the personal documents of the drivers. The Supreme Court recommended that the renewal of driving licenses should be blocked for habitual offenders or those with unpaid fines, while Also, measures should be put in place to suspend existing driving licenses that are currently active if the holder has failed to clear their e-challans. Another critical suggestion involves the Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate. The court stated that centers shouldn't be allowed to issue PUC certificates to vehicles that have pending e-challans. This would create multiple touchpoints where a citizen would be forced to clear their traffic debts to continue using their vehicle legally.
Enforcement and Vehicle Seizure
Beyond administrative blocks, the Supreme Court advocated for more direct enforcement actions. It suggested that authorities should conduct random checks of vehicles on the road. If a vehicle is found to have unpaid e-challans during such a check, the authorities should take necessary steps to seize the vehicle. By creating a system where non-payment leads to the loss of vehicle access and essential services like electricity, the court aims to instill a sense of accountability among citizens regarding traffic regulations.