Lawyers staging a protest march at India Gate Circle against amended traffic challan rules under Rule 167 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, in New Delhi on Monday.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Lawyers across all seven district courts in Delhi abstained from work on Monday in protest against changes to the traffic challan system, particularly the requirement that a person deposit 50% of the penalty before approaching a court.
The day-long protest was called by the Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations, which had flagged the amendments to Rule 167 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, in a circular issued on September 20.
Advocates assembled at district court complexes and raised slogans demanding that the Delhi government withdraw the amendment.
Under the revised mechanism, a person issued a challan can either accept it and pay the penalty or contest it through the prescribed portal before an authority designated by the State government. Such a challenge has to be filed within 45 days.
The lawyers have opposed the provision allowing a person to approach a court against an order of the designated authority only after making the mandatory pre-deposit, saying it could impose an additional financial burden on those contesting a challan and discourage them from seeking judicial redress.
They have also questioned the role given to the executive in deciding a challenge before the matter reaches a court, arguing that determining a dispute over a traffic violation is essentially a judicial function. They contended that the procedure could also leave a person with limited opportunity to place the circumstances surrounding an alleged traffic violation before a court.
The advocates also raised concerns over the digital nature of the mechanism, pointing to difficulties it could pose for people unfamiliar with online systems, as well as commercial vehicle drivers, including truck drivers.
Published – September 22, 2026 12:10 am IST
