Traffic fines no longer mandatory to pay immediately: Centre rolls out clear rules to challenge challans

New Delhi: In a major relief for motorists across the country, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has introduced a new framework clarifying that traffic fines issued by police are not compulsory to be paid immediately and can be formally challenged within a fixed time frame. The move aims to bring transparency, uniformity and accountability in the issuance and settlement of traffic challans, both physical and electronic.

Under the new rules, motorists who receive a challan for traffic violations now have the option to either pay the fine or contest it through a clearly defined online process. The ministry has laid down strict timelines for questioning challans, settling disputes and enforcing penalties, addressing long-standing issues related to low recovery of fines and misuse of exemptions.

According to official data, only about 38 per cent of e-challans issued across states and Union Territories are currently being paid. In several states, violators were either given full waivers or partial concessions, defeating the very objective of deterrence. To plug these loopholes, the Centre has introduced a structured mechanism applicable nationwide.

45-day window to challenge challans

As per the new guidelines, a motorist can accept the challan and pay the fine straightaway, or challenge it within 45 days of issuance. Challenges must be submitted online through the government portal echallan.parivahan.in, along with supporting documents, before the designated authority.

If the challan is not challenged within 45 days, it will be deemed that the violator has accepted the offence. In such cases, the fine must be paid within the next 30 days, taking the total payment window to 75 days from the date of issuance. Failure to act within this period will attract stricter enforcement measures.

What has changed from earlier rules

Earlier, unpaid challans were automatically transferred to virtual courts after 90 days. Once a case reached court, transport authorities were unable to block services such as vehicle registration transfer, driving licence renewal, issuance of duplicate licences, NOCs or pollution certificates. This loophole was widely exploited, especially in major cities like Delhi, allowing violators to ignore challans without immediate consequences.

Under the revised rules, challans will no longer be automatically sent to courts. Instead, unpaid challans will directly impact access to transport-related services. Authorities have made it mandatory to clear pending fines before availing any services linked to vehicle registration or driving licences.

What happens when a challan is challenged

When a challan is contested through the portal, the designated officer is required to examine the evidence, hear the arguments and pass an order within 30 days. If the authority agrees with the motorist’s explanation, the challan may be cancelled. Such orders must be recorded in writing and uploaded on the portal.

If the challenge is rejected, the reasons must be clearly stated in writing. In that case, the motorist must pay the fine within 30 days of the order being uploaded online.

Consequences of non-payment

If the fine remains unpaid even after the stipulated period, the motorist will receive daily reminders. Until the challan is settled, licensing and registration authorities will not process any applications, except those related to taxation. The driving licence or vehicle registration will be marked as ‘Not to be Transacted’ on the portal, effectively blocking all services.

Applicability of the rules

The new mechanism applies only to compoundable offences, where fines can be paid either on the spot or online. Non-compoundable offences must still be settled in court. However, the Centre has indicated that many non-compoundable offences may soon be made compoundable under the proposed Jan Viswas Bill 2.0, which has already been introduced in Parliament.

Who can issue challans

Traffic challans can be issued by any police officer or by officials authorised by state governments or Union Territories. Challans may be generated manually or through automated electronic surveillance systems.

Physical challans must be delivered within 15 days, while electronic challans must reach the violator within three days. All challan details will be recorded chronologically on official portals.

While the new rules are intended to strengthen enforcement and protect motorists’ rights, officials admit that addressing complaints and resolving disputes within fixed timelines may pose staffing and capacity challenges for transport departments.