E Challan Is Valid For How Many Days?

How many of you have been late to school? I mean, all of us have been scolded by our PT teachers for coming late. But there were some regular late-comers who were taken to the Headmistress. Do you remember the punishments they got? They either had to write an imposition or bring their parents to school. It was an intimidating experience, wasn’t it?

Now, even as adults, there are still those PT teachers keeping an eye on us. Ever wondered who they are? They're none other than our traffic policemen who ensure that you follow the road rules. If you don't, they issue e-challans and ask you to pay fines. The motive of these challans is to remind you to drive more cautiously. However, they come with a deadline, usually a period of 60 days. You will have to pay them within this time to avoid further penalties. So, let’s find out more about this in detail below.
 

What Is Traffic E Challan?

Ever gotten one of those official slips for breaking traffic rules in India? It is called a traffic e challan. This paper is issued as a punishment/penalty to motor vehicle drivers who violate traffic rules and regulations in India. When you are issued a traffic challan in your name, you will have to pay a penalty to the law. This fine hinges on the specific offence you committed and is outlined in the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988.

And you know what? The traffic police see every citizen as one. Whoever you are, they have the authority to issue a challan if you disobey traffic rules.

Nowadays, the world has digitally transformed. This digitalisation and shift to electronic platforms has introduced the concept of the E challan system. This makes the process more streamlined and efficient.
 

So, how is this E challan issued?

It is a computer-generated challan that the traffic police issue to traffic defaulters across India. The Government of India started this process to make traffic services convenient, easy, and transparent for everyone.
 

How does it help?

With the e challan system, traffic police can now monitor violators more effectively. It also helps defaulters pay e challans either online or offline, depending on their city or state's facilities. With the new-age digital India, this system aims to avoid cash transactions to ensure all payments remain clear and transparent.

That's not it! The government has also introduced the Traffic eChallan application, which is integrated with the Vahan and Sarathi web portal applications. These platforms offer numerous benefits and features, covering all key aspects of the administration system. Whether online or offline, you can pay a traffic E challan in minutes.
 

Purpose Of E Challan System

Do you want to know the purpose of introducing this system? It is actually quite efficient. The e challan system is actually meant to streamline and speed up the verification and payment of traffic violations. It was developed by the NIC - National Informatics Centre and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). This digital platform modernises how traffic penalties are issued. Do you know how beneficial this is? With this system, vehicle owners can easily check and resolve E challans using their registration number.

To check your E challan status -

• Visit the dedicated website of your state's transport department.
• Click on the "E Challan Check by Vehicle Number" option. You should then enter your vehicle registration number in the designated field.
• Once you submit this information, you will see all pending challans against your vehicle.

This system promotes transparency by making all information about issued challans readily available online.
 

E Challan Is Valid For How Many Days?

Wondering in how many days challan should be paid? You have got 60 days to settle it. However, starting on the 16th day, a penalty of Rs. 10 per day is added. In worst cases, this penalty can go up to Rs. 1000. Do you know after how many days challan goes to court?

You should be aware that if you let the fine pass for too long, the traffic police will take strict action to recover the dues along with the penalty. But if you still delay your payment, your challan will end up in court for further investigation. You should, however, keep in mind that the E challan expiry date might differ from state to state. This is why it is best to check your local regulations.
 

What Happens If You Don't Pay E Challan?

If you haven't paid your challan within the given timeframe, there are a few outcomes if it ends up in court -

• Court Appearance
  When your challan reaches the court, you will need to appear there to clear the dues. Even if you received the challan on the spot and missed the deadline for payment, it eventually lands in court for settlement. Usually, once the challan's deadline passes, a court notice is issued regarding your pending challan.
  
  For example,
  George was getting late for a friend’s party. He drove above the speed limit and got a speeding ticket. He forgot to check and pay his E challan on time. A few days later, he received a court notice asking him to appear in court and clear all his dues.
   
• Settle It With Traffic Police
  If you missed paying your E challan online, you can approach traffic police to clear the pending payment in court. Remember, no traffic officer can forcibly collect a fine from you, but they have the power to stop you from violating road rules. However, they cannot retain your license or vehicle documents or demand immediate payment of the challan on the spot.
   

How To Pay Your E Challan?

Paying your E challan is super easy! The Government of India has streamlined the online payment process for challans, which makes it a very convenient option for you. Every Indian state has its own dedicated transport website where you can easily settle your challan. Also, you can make use of the official government website to make payments.

While the exact steps may vary a bit from state to state, the overall process is usually simple and straightforward -

E Challan Payment: Online Process (Official Website)

Paying your E Challan online is as easy as pie! Here’s how you can do it on the official website -

• Head over to the E Challan Parivahan website.
• Choose your Challan number, DL number, or vehicle number.
• Review any pending fines displayed.
• Fill in the required details and complete the captcha.
• Hit "Get Details" and then click on "Pay Now."
• Choose your preferred payment method to settle the fine.
• Once you complete your payment, you will receive an SMS on your registered phone number.
• Keep that SMS handy, or note down the transaction ID for your records.

So, how do you know that you have cleared all your dues?

You should remember that if you don’t have any pending challans, the website will confirm with a reassuring message: "Challan Not Found." This ensures that you will not have to worry about making any unnecessary payments.

E Challan Payment: Offline Process

Here's what you need to do to pay the fine offline -

1. At The Police Station
   1. Find the nearest police station where you received the challan.
   2. Bring your driving licence, along with your address and identity proof, and the traffic violation challan issued by the traffic police.
   3. You can then complete your payment using either cash or card and collect your receipt promptly.
2. With A Traffic Police Officer
   1. Find a traffic police officer who has an E challan machine.
   2. Give your driving licence, ID proof, and the challan.
   3. Settle the fine using cash or card and get your receipt promptly.
       

Payment Methods And Gateways

They are crucial for securely handling those vehicle fines or E challans. When you are making these payments, you want your personal information kept safe and sound, right? This is where the payment methods can help you to have secure transactions.

So, what options can you use to make these payments?

You can pay the fine using debit or credit cards, net banking, or digital wallets like Google Pay and Paytm. These apps will make paying those E challans a very easy step. But hold on! Picking the right payment gateway is very essential. You want a platform that is trustworthy, like SBI e-Pay, Bill Desk, or HDFC Bank's Payment Gateway. These will be your trusted partners while making payments and ensure to keep fraudsters at bay.

So, next time you are about to click that payment button, remember to pick your payment method wisely.
 

Wrapping Up,

The validity period of an E challan varies based on the issuing authority and the nature of the violation.

It's important to check the details mentioned in the E challan itself for specific information about its expiration date. Always address any fines promptly to avoid further consequences. Understanding the validity helps in managing timely payments and compliance with regulations.

Note:

The content on this page is generic and shared only for informative and explanatory purposes. It is sourced from multiple online resources and may be subject to change. Kindly seek advice from an expert before making any decisions related to the discussed subject matter.