Lawyers at all of Delhi’s district courts will boycott work on September 21, disrupting physical and virtual hearings, to oppose revised traffic-challan rules that they say weaken judicial oversight and make it harder for citizens to challenge penalties.
The district bar associations’ coordination committee has announced that lawyers will not appear in court during the boycott. It has also scheduled peaceful demonstrations outside the court complexes at 11.30 am. The action is expected to affect proceedings across Delhi’s district courts, although the report does not specify the number of hearings that may be postponed.
The protest centres on amendments to Rule 167 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, as well as rules introduced by the Delhi government for settling traffic challans. Narvir Dabas, general secretary of the coordination committee, said the changes were not in the public interest, according to Live Hindustan – NCR.
The committee has objected to provisions that transfer the power to settle challans from judicial magistrates to sub-divisional magistrates and other departmental officials. Lawyers have argued that this change is contrary to the basic principles of the justice system and could affect citizens’ right to a fair hearing.
Another provision under dispute requires a person to deposit 50 per cent of the challan amount before approaching a court if an application has been rejected by an administrative officer. The lawyers’ committee has said the condition makes access to judicial remedies more difficult for members of the public.
The committee has also raised concerns about the time limit for challenging a challan. Under Rule 167(5), an objection must be filed on an online portal within 45 days of the challan being issued. The committee said that if an objection is not filed within that period, the challan would be treated as accepted.
Traffic challan disputes form a routine part of the interaction between Delhi residents and the city’s enforcement and judicial systems. The proposed shift from court-based adjudication to administrative settlement therefore affects not only lawyers but also vehicle owners who seek to contest penalties, present their case or challenge an order.
The lawyers’ committee has warned that the protest could be intensified in the coming days if the government does not withdraw the provisions it has opposed. The report does not state whether the Delhi government or the relevant central authorities have announced any change to the rules before the scheduled boycott.
The next immediate development will be the lawyers’ boycott and the planned demonstrations at district court complexes on September 21. Any rescheduling of hearings or further decision by the government on the challan rules will determine the effect on court users and the continuation of the protest.
