Stories
Lawyers Strike Over "Draconian" Traffic Challan Rule Changes in Delhi
- •Delhi lawyers will abstain from work on Monday, September 21, to protest recent amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules regarding traffic challans.
- •The Coordination Committee of All District Courts Bar Associations of Delhi deemed the amended Rule 167 "draconian and arbitrary."
- •Lawyers object to the transfer of adjudicatory powers from judicial magistrates to SDMs and other departmental officers, and the mandatory 50% pre-deposit for further judicial remedy.
- •The bar body argues the changes impede access to justice and raise concerns about the separation of executive and judicial functions.
- •Despite assurances from the Delhi government, officers from various departments have reportedly been notified for challan redressal, leading to the protest.
Key Questions Answered
The Coordination Committee of All District Courts Bar Associations called a one-day strike to protest against amended Central Motor Vehicles Rules regarding traffic challan disposal, which they termed draconian, arbitrary, and a threat to judicial independence and access to justice.
Lawyers objected to transferring adjudicatory powers over contested challans from judicial magistrates to executive officers like SDMs and Tehsildars, and to the mandatory 50 per cent pre-deposit requirement for litigants seeking judicial remedy after a rejection.
Under the digital challan framework, a recipient must either pay or challenge the fine within 45 days via the prescribed portal, failing which the challan is automatically deemed accepted, leading to stricter enforcement consequences and potential blocking of vehicle-related services.
