Lawyers strike work over 50% pre-deposit for challan appeals

Lawyers across all seven district courts in Delhi abstained from work on Monday in protest against changes to the traffic challan system, particularly the requirement that a person deposit 50% of the penalty before approaching a court.

The day-long protest was called by the Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations, which had flagged the amendments to Rule 167 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, in a circular issued on September 20.

Advocates assembled at district court complexes and raised slogans demanding that the Delhi government withdraw the amendment.

Under the revised mechanism, a person issued a challan can either accept it and pay the penalty or contest it through the prescribed portal before an authority designated by the State government. Such a challenge has to be filed within 45 days.