Patna: The Patna High Court has directed the Bihar government to frame a clear mechanism for resolving traffic challan disputes through Lok Adalats, taking serious note of the absence of such a system in the state.
Hearing a public interest litigation filed by Rani Tiwari, a division bench led by Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo asked the government to issue a notification on the lines of Odisha. The proposed notification will define which officials are authorised to settle such disputes and specify the minimum monetary threshold for cases eligible for resolution.
Focus On Reducing Court Burden
The court observed that several states routinely resolve traffic challan disputes through Lok Adalats and Special Lok Adalats, thereby reducing the burden on regular courts.
Referring to Odisha as an example, the bench noted that such mechanisms help ensure quicker disposal of cases while saving judicial time. It added that expanding the use of Lok Adalats in Bihar could provide faster relief to citizens.
Petitioner Flags Lack Of Mechanism
Counsel for the petitioner, Vikas Kumar Pankaj, argued that while other states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi regularly use Lok Adalats for such disputes, Bihar lacks an effective system.
He also cited Chandigarh, where a continuous Lok Adalat over two weeks resolved a large number of challan-related cases.
The petition alleged that in Bihar, vehicle owners often face pressure to clear pending challans, with services such as issuance of Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates being withheld until fines are paid.
Court Seeks Clarity From State
During earlier hearings, the court had sought responses from the state government and the Bihar State Legal Services Authority on why Lok Adalats were not being utilised for such matters.
The proposed notification is expected to introduce a more accessible and cost-effective system for dispute resolution, potentially allowing settlement of fines at reduced amounts.
Next Hearing On April 27
The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 27, 2026, to review the state government’s response regarding the issuance of the notification.
Officials said the move could pave the way for a more transparent and efficient mechanism for handling traffic challan disputes in Bihar while easing pressure on the judicial system.
