Over Five Pending Challans In Hyderabad May Soon Lead To Licence, RC Restrictions For Drivers

Motorists in Hyderabad who repeatedly break traffic rules or fail to clear pending challans could soon face stricter action, with the Transport department preparing a new mechanism that may impact driving licence and vehicle registration certificate-related services.

The proposed system is aimed at improving enforcement while also giving vehicle owners a faster and more transparent way to challenge traffic penalties.

The state government is set to introduce the process as part of a broader effort to streamline traffic challan disputes. In line with the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, officials are planning to appoint a grievance redressal authority to hear objections related to fines. A preliminary notification is expected to be issued within the next couple of days.

Online-Only System Planned For Challan Disputes

Under the proposed framework, vehicle owners will have to file objections to traffic challans through an online portal, as complaints will not be accepted offline. Once a complaint is submitted, designated authorities will scrutinise the case, take a decision and communicate the outcome electronically to the vehicle owner or driving licence holder.

Officials have already prepared a standard operating procedure to ensure the process remains transparent and follows fixed timelines. The final notification is expected to include details of the portal and other procedural steps.

Police And Transport Officials To Be Designated As Grievance Authorities

The proposed policy clearly identifies who will examine complaints depending on which department issued the challan.

For police-issued challans, disputes in Hyderabad, Cyberabad, Malkajgiri and Pudur City commissionerates will be reviewed by zonal traffic deputy commissioners of police. In commissionerates such as Khammam, Karimnagar, Ramagundam, Siddipet, Warangal and Nizamabad, the responsibility will rest with additional deputy commissioners of police (administration). In Mulugu and Narayanpet districts, superintendents of police will handle the cases, while in other districts, the task will be assigned to additional superintendents.

Within the Transport department, grievance redressal powers will be given to the deputy transport commissioner, regional transport officers and district transport officers. They will deal with objections linked to penalties imposed by transport officials.

Multiple Camera Captures, Ownership Transfer Issues Behind Complaints

Officials said traffic challan disputes often arise because of common recurring issues. In several cases, motorists receive multiple fines for what is effectively a single violation, particularly in overspeeding cases where different cameras on the same stretch capture the vehicle at multiple points.

Another major source of complaints is when challans are issued after a vehicle has already been sold, but ownership records have not yet been updated. Technical glitches and data entry mistakes are also contributing to wrongly generated or disputed fines.

To reduce confusion and ensure quicker communication, the proposed rules state that challans generated through camera images must be served within three days. Physical challans, meanwhile, must be issued within 15 days.

Timelines Fixed For Payment, Appeal And Possible Service Block

The draft process lays out a clear timeline for motorists once a challan is issued. After receiving the notice, a vehicle owner will have 45 days either to pay the fine or raise an objection through the online system. Authorities will then get 30 days to examine the complaint and deliver a decision.

If the motorist accepts the ruling, the fine must be paid within 30 days. If the person is not satisfied, they can move court, but only after depositing 50 per cent of the challan amount. If no appeal is filed, an additional 15-day window will be given to clear the full penalty.

Courts will have the power to cancel wrongly issued challans. However, if the fine is upheld, the motorist will have to make the payment.

The proposed rules also carry a strong deterrent for habitual defaulters. If more than five challans remain unpaid in a year, an alert will be sent to the Transport department in its role as the licensing authority. In such cases, officials may block services linked to the driving licence or vehicle registration certificate. Related Regional Transport Authority services would be restored only after all pending fines are paid in full.