Punjab’s e-challan system has been challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC) over alleged identification errors and fines issued to motorists without proper vehicle verification.
A civil miscellaneous application was filed by Advocate Azhar Siddique as part of a pending constitutional petition. The application alleges that motorists are receiving traffic fines for violations committed by other vehicles due to flaws in the identification process.
The applicant cited the case of a Gujrat resident whose 2018 model car received five e-challans for violations in Lahore, even though the attached photographs allegedly showed a different vehicle model. The resident maintained that his car was in Gujrat after travelling from Naran and was not present in Lahore when the violations occurred. In another case, a lawyer reportedly received four e-challans worth Rs. 11,000.
The application argues that identifying vehicles solely through number plates without verifying their make, model, and colour increases the risk of incorrect fines. It also raises concerns that unpaid challans could result in vehicle confiscation and restrictions on ownership transfers and token tax payments.
The petitioner has urged the court to introduce stronger verification procedures, greater accountability, and an effective mechanism for motorists to challenge incorrect e-challans. He maintained that technology should facilitate citizens rather than penalize them without adequate verification.
