The Ministry of Road Transport has proposed major changes to the Motor Vehicle (MV) Rules to improve traffic law compliance.
According to the draft notification, anyone who violates traffic rules must either pay their challan or submit proof to contest it within 45 days of issue.
RTO Services to Be Blocked for Defaulters
A key proposal says that Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) will stop processing any applications related to vehicle registration or driving licences if there are unpaid challans.
Vehicles and licence holders with pending dues will be marked as “not to be transacted” on the Vahan and Sarathi portals, meaning no further services will be allowed until payments are cleared.
Dispute Process and Timelines
People who receive challans can contest them online by submitting documents to an authority designated by the state government.
If the challan is not challenged within 45 days, it will be treated as accepted.
If a challan is challenged but not resolved within 30 days, or if it is cancelled, the penalty becomes invalid.
However, if the violator disagrees with the authority’s decision, they can appeal in court within 30 days by depositing 50% of the fine.
Need for Clear Rules and Accountability
Experts say the new system must be supported by strong digital and administrative setups.
They stress the importance of clearly defining the duties of the designated authorities and ensuring names are promptly removed from defaulter lists after payments.
Some have also suggested adding penalties for officials who delay updating records after dues are settled.
Stricter Enforcement and Faster Processing
The draft allows police officers or authorised officials to issue challans either physically or automatically.
These must be delivered within 15 days if given in person or within 3 days if sent electronically.
The new system aims to strengthen enforcement, improve accountability, and ensure faster resolution of traffic violations — ultimately promoting better road discipline nationwide.
