The Supreme Court has suggested linking unpaid traffic e-challans to electricity bills as a possible way to recover the large amount of pending traffic fines across states and Union Territories. The court noted that around Rs 20,000 crore in traffic fines remain outstanding and stressed that authorities must focus on recovering the money rather than only issuing challans.

A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan was informed that authorities issue a vast number of traffic e-challans, but the recovery of fines remains low. The bench said issuing challans alone was not enough and that their recovery was equally important.

"If people are not paying traffic challans, add it to their electricity dues bill. They will have to pay electricity bills else; the power line will be disconnected. Work it out. In this country, you have to find a way out," the bench remarked.

The court was informed that states and Union territories had an outstanding amount of around Rs 45,000 crore in e-challans. Of this, approximately Rs 25,000 crore has been recovered so far. The figures highlighted the gap between the large number of challans issued and the amount actually collected.

The Supreme Court also suggested blacklisting vehicles with unpaid challans on the Parivahan portal. It proposed blocking ownership transfers of such vehicles. Such measures could prevent vehicle owners from transferring ownership without clearing their pending traffic dues.

Justice Pardiwala said authorities need to take stronger measures at the ground level. The bench suggested conducting random checks of vehicles to identify those with unpaid e-challans. It also said authorities could take action against vehicles found with outstanding fines.

"Let there be random checking of vehicles and if found that e-challan has not been honoured, necessary steps to be taken to impound the vehicle itself," the bench said.

The observations came during the hearing of a plea seeking comprehensive systemic reforms in road safety, traffic enforcement and post-accident victim care. The court discussed several possible measures to improve compliance with traffic rules and ensure better recovery of fines.

The suggestion to link traffic fines with electricity bills would require authorities to work out the legal and administrative process before implementation. The court's remarks also included other enforcement options, such as action through the Parivahan portal, restrictions on ownership transfers, random vehicle checks and possible vehicle impounding for unpaid challans.