Story perspectives

Supreme Court backs electricity cuts for unpaid e-challans

By Drooid · Sep 28, 2026, 4:45 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Supreme Court suggested linking unpaid traffic challans to electricity bills.
The bench noted states and Union Territories face about Rs 45,000 crore in dues, with Rs 25,000 crore recovered.
Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan proposed disconnecting electricity for non-paying vehicle owners.
They also recommended blocking renewal of registration, fitness and pollution certificates and suspending licences for vehicles with unpaid fines.
Random checks and impoundment were urged for cars with outstanding e-challans.

History

Historical Context

In 1997 the Delhi Vidyut Board replaced the older DESU, but persistent 50 % transmission losses and mounting liabilities led to its 2002 unbundling into private distribution firms. By 2005 the Board began cutting power to 1.3 million households owing over Rs 10,000, a move the Supreme Court upheld. Today Justices Pardiwala and Viswanathan propose extending that disconnection model to traffic-fine defaulters.

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Story summary

Supreme Court suggested linking unpaid traffic challans to electricity bills.
The bench noted states and Union Territories face about Rs 45,000 crore in dues, with Rs 25,000 crore recovered.
Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan proposed disconnecting electricity for non-paying vehicle owners.
They also recommended blocking renewal of registration, fitness and pollution certificates and suspending licences for vehicles with unpaid fines.
Random checks and impoundment were urged for cars with outstanding e-challans.

1 / 2