Govt proposes 45-day deadline to settle or contest traffic challans

The ministry has invited public feedback on the draft notification before finalising the amendments.

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New Delhi: The government has proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicle (MV) Rules, mandating that individuals who violate traffic and other motor vehicle regulations must either pay or contest their challans within 45 days of issuance, reported The Times of India. The move aims to streamline the enforcement process and ensure timely settlement of traffic fines.According to a draft notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) will not process any applications related to driving licences or vehicle registrations of defaulters until their dues are cleared. Offending vehicles and driving licence holders will also be flagged as “not to be transacted” on the Vahan and Sarathi portals.Officials said the proposal is designed to encourage violators to clear pending challans promptly. However, transport industry experts have urged the government to ensure robust mechanisms for grievance redressal before enforcing the changes.

“The draft rules specify that anyone receiving a challan may contest it on the portal with supporting evidence before an authority designated by the state government,” said a senior industry expert.

“It is equally important to define the accountability of this authority and to include a penalty clause if names are not promptly removed from the defaulter list once dues are cleared,” the expert added.The ministry has invited public feedback on the draft notification before finalising the amendments.