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Supreme Court suggests linking unpaid traffic fines to electricity bills
The Supreme Court of India has suggested that States and Union Territories explore linking unpaid traffic e-challans to electricity bills to improve fine recovery rates. A Bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan made these observations during a hearing regarding a long-standing road safety Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2012.
Data presented to the court indicates a significant gap in enforcement, with approximately Rs 45,000 crore in e-challan fines pending recovery across the country, of which only Rs 25,000 crore has been collected. Justice Pardiwala noted that merely issuing electronic tickets is insufficient if the actual fines are not recovered, suggesting that linking dues to essential services like electricity would provide a strong incentive for defaulters to pay.
In addition to the electricity bill proposal, the court discussed several other administrative measures to curb non-compliance, including:
• Blocking the renewal of vehicle Registration Certificates (RC), fitness certificates, and PUC certificates. • Restricting the transfer of vehicle ownership. • Blocking the renewal of driving licences. • Blacklisting defaulting vehicles on the Parivahan portal. • Conducting random vehicle checks and potentially impounding vehicles with unpaid fines.
Entities
JB Pardiwala · KV Viswanathan · Parivahan portal · S Rajaseekaran · Supreme Court of India
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Of the total penalties imposed, 25,000 crore rupees have been successfully collected. www.zoomnews.in · www.news9live.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The court suggested stopping the renewal of vehicle Registration Certificates (RC) for those with pending fines. www.zoomnews.in · www.news9live.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The court proposed restricting driving licenses and PUC certificates for defaulters. www.news9live.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Approximately 45,000 crore rupees in e-challan fines remain unrecovered across states and Union Territories. www.zoomnews.in · www.news9live.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Supreme Court suggested linking unpaid traffic e-challans to electricity bills to improve recovery rates. www.zoomnews.in · english.mathrubhumi.com · www.news9live.com