Patna: Authorities in Bihar will set up special benches across all districts to hear traffic e-challan cases during the Lok Adalat scheduled for March 14, in a move aimed at clearing thousands of pending disputes and providing relief to motorists.
The initiative marks the first time that traffic challan matters will be formally taken up in Lok Adalats in the state. Officials from the transport department said dedicated benches will be constituted to resolve disputes related to e-challans issued for traffic rule violations.
The decision follows a strong observation by the Patna High Court earlier this week. While hearing a public interest litigation on March 10, a bench led by chief justice Sangam Kumar Sahu asked the state government why Lok Adalats were not being used in Bihar to resolve traffic challan disputes, as is common practice in several other states. The court issued a notice seeking a response from the government.
Following the court’s remarks, the state government moved quickly. Aruna Kumari, a special officer in the transport department, sent instructions to district transport officers directing them to ensure that pending e-challan cases are taken up for settlement in the Lok Adalat.
According to transport department data, enforcement has intensified in recent months. Between December 2025 and January 2026 alone, more than 148,000 traffic challans were issued across Bihar, resulting in fines exceeding Rs 90.97 crore. From April 2025 to January 2026, nearly 500,000 challans were issued, with penalties amounting to about Rs 301.28 crore.
Motorists have frequently complained about allegedly incorrect challans issued by traffic police and transport authorities, saying there was no clear mechanism to contest them. Many claimed they had to repeatedly visit government offices without receiving a hearing.
Officials say the inclusion of such cases in the Lok Adalat could significantly reduce the backlog and provide a quicker and more accessible platform for citizens to resolve disputes.
