PUC Certificate Now Available Even With Pending Traffic Challans

Bhubaneswar: Vehicle owners who were earlier unable to obtain a Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate due to pending traffic fines can now breathe a sigh of relief. Following growing public dissatisfaction, the government has reportedly withdrawn the restriction that made payment of old traffic challans mandatory for issuing a PUC certificate.

Earlier, the State Transport Department had enforced a rule stating that if traffic fines or e-challans older than 90 days were not cleared, vehicle owners would not be eligible to get their PUC certificate. However, the rule caused widespread inconvenience, particularly for those whose challans were pending in courts, as neither the vehicle owners nor the department could proceed until a legal decision was made.

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As public resentment intensified, the government appears to have softened its stand. Although no official notification has been issued so far, sources indicate that the rule has been relaxed. Now, clearing old fines is no longer compulsory for obtaining a PUC certificate. On the ground, several vehicle owners have already received their PUC certificates despite having pending challans.

While the move has brought relief to the public, it has also raised serious questions about the functioning of the Transport Department. Experts and citizens are asking on what legal basis the original rule was introduced, and if it was implemented under the Motor Vehicles Act, then what justified its sudden withdrawal. Moreover, if such a rule could be removed so easily, critics argue that citizens were unnecessarily harassed for months due to a poorly thought-out policy.

The episode has once again highlighted concerns over policy inconsistency and administrative decision-making within the transport authorities.

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