Patna: The Patna High Court has questioned the Bihar government over the absence of a mechanism to resolve traffic challan disputes through Lok Adalats, as is done in several other states.
Hearing a public interest litigation filed by Rani Tiwari, a division bench headed by chief justice Sangam Kumar Sahu asked the state government why Lok Adalats and special Lok Adalats are not being used to settle traffic challan cases in Bihar.
The court had earlier issued notices to the state government and the Bihar State Legal Services Authority (BALSA), seeking their responses on the issue.
During the hearing, advocate Vikas Kumar Pankaj, representing the petitioner, argued that many states regularly resolve traffic challan disputes through Lok Adalats.
He cited the example of Chandigarh, where a large number of challan cases were disposed of during a Lok Adalat conducted over two consecutive weeks.
Pankaj also told the court that similar mechanisms are being used in states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and Odisha to resolve such cases efficiently.
He argued that in Bihar, the transport department often issues traffic challans arbitrarily, but there is no effective system in place for citizens to contest or resolve them.
According to the petitioner, pending challans can also create practical difficulties for vehicle owners, including problems in obtaining pollution under control (PUC) certificates.
The court took note of the submissions and sought clarification from the authorities.
Meanwhile, a National Lok Adalat is scheduled to be held on March 14, 2026. The high court is expected to continue hearing the matter on Wednesday.
