Traffic E-Challans from 2017-21 Will not be Quashed, Supreme Court Issues Major Decision

Traffic Challan Update: Challans issued for traffic violations between 2017 and 2021 will no longer be quashed. The Supreme Court has made it clear that fines will be mandatory in such cases. The court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to implement the amendment to the 2023 law within six weeks. This order was issued after hearing a petition filed by senior advocate KC Jain.

Why did the Supreme Court order come?

The Uttar Pradesh government had quashed over one million pending cases and over one lakh e-challans related to traffic violations under a 2023 law. Senior advocate KC Jain approached the Supreme Court, calling this decision against the objective of road safety. He argued that quashing cases without a hearing is not only unfair but also undermines the seriousness of traffic rules.

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Court Comments on Government Affidavit

On January 22, a Supreme Court bench considered the state government’s affidavit. It stated that a meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary on January 9, 2026, decided to amend the 2023 law. Following the amendment, offenses that are not compoundable, carry a jail sentence, or are repeated violations will be excluded from the law’s scope. The court ordered the amendment to be implemented within six weeks.

Issue of Conflict with Central Law

The Supreme Court also clarified that the state law does not comply with the provisions of the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. It was neither sent for the President’s assent nor was such assent obtained. Consequently, the court raised serious questions about the law’s validity. The next hearing in this matter is scheduled for April 9, 2026.

Questions Raised on Repeated Challan Waivers

The petition also stated that the Uttar Pradesh government periodically eliminated traffic violations by enacting five separate laws between 1977 and 2023. This was done despite the state having the highest number of road accident deaths in the country. The court has previously observed that traffic discipline is a major challenge in India, and that waiving challans only exacerbates this problem.

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Warning of Unconstitutionality

Senior advocate Gaurav Agarwal, amicus curiae, expressed concern to the court that the proposed amendments would not be a permanent solution to the problem. If the situation persists, the entire Uttar Pradesh Act may have to be declared unconstitutional. However, the state government claimed that the amendments would be sufficient. The Supreme Court has given the government a chance for now, but has left the constitutional question open.

A Serious Issue Related to Road Safety

Petitioner KC Jain stated that this matter is not just about challans, but also about human life and public safety. Those who followed the rules or paid the fines have been wronged. This order is a message not just to Uttar Pradesh but to the entire country: road safety laws should not be weakened for administrative convenience.