Delhi Govt Plans to Empower SDMs and Tehsildars to Clear 4 Crore Traffic Challans
The Delhi government is preparing a proposal to empower nearly 700 officials across various departments, including sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) and tehsildars, to dispose of pending traffic challans across the national capital. The initiative aims to help clear an accumulated backlog of more than four crore traffic challans.
Under the proposed plan, officials of the rank of section officer and above across the revenue, transport, and other government departments will be authorized to adjudicate and clear challans. A cabinet note detailing the mechanism is currently being prepared and is expected to be placed before the Delhi Cabinet in the coming weeks.
The initiative is designed to provide motorists with additional avenues to settle contested and pending challans, particularly for those who find it difficult or inconvenient to navigate the court system. This new mechanism will function alongside the existing channels, which allow citizens to dispose of challans online, through regular courts, or through Lok Adalats in eligible cases.
According to government officials, the proposal will allow citizens to approach designated officers located closer to their homes to resolve contested traffic penalties rather than traveling to centralized courts or waiting for specialized dispute resolution sessions.
The administrative measure comes amid an escalating backlog of over four crore pending traffic challan cases in Delhi. Officials noted that a substantial proportion of these penalties were generated through automated enforcement mechanisms, including roadside traffic cameras and automated surveillance networks. The remaining challans were issued on the ground by Delhi Traffic Police personnel and transport department enforcement teams during routine and special drives.
