Relief for Motorists: Patna High Court Clears Lok Adalat Route for Traffic Challan Cases

Brief By Newsbrief / 6:01 PM on 23 Jun 2026

The Patna High Court has ruled that traffic challan-related disputes in Bihar can be heard and resolved through Permanent Lok Adalats, aiming to reduce the burden on regular courts and provide faster relief to citizens. Hearing a public interest litigation filed by Rani Tiwari, a division bench led by Chief Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai observed that such cases do not fall under the categories excluded from Lok Adalat jurisdiction.

Advocate Vikas Kumar Pankaj argued that traffic challan disputes are routinely settled through Lok Adalats in several states and highlighted the lack of an effective mechanism in Bihar. The court noted that more than 2.67 lakh traffic challan cases are pending across district courts, with thousands of new cases being added regularly.

The bench also stressed the need for online payment facilities and directed judicial officers to prioritize these matters. With the order, the court disposed of the PIL while emphasizing quicker and more accessible dispute resolution.