Bhubaneswar: The Transport Commissioner has directed all RTOs and enforcement officials across Odisha to strictly implement Section 207 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 against vehicles found plying without valid registration, fitness, permit and other statutory documents.
In a communication issued to all Regional Transport Officers, Additional RTOs, Deputy Commissioners Transport and enforcement staff, the department expressed concern over weak enforcement during the period from 01.04.2026 to 30.06.2026.
According to data from the e-Challan system, a large number of challans were issued under Section 192 of the Act during this period. However, the number of vehicles seized or detained under Section 207 was found to be disproportionately low. The report shows that in many cases enforcement officials confined their action to issuing challans only, without taking consequential action of seizure or detention even when the violation attracted Section 207.
The Transport Commissioner’s office termed this practice “highly unsatisfactory” and said it defeats the purpose of road safety enforcement. It stated that a vehicle found plying without valid RC, Fitness Certificate, Permit or other mandatory compliance cannot be allowed to continue its journey merely on payment of challan.
Compounding or challaning addresses past liability, but it cannot legalise an ongoing statutory violation. Citing the recent fatal road accident near Palabani under Baripada Town Police Station on July 3, the department said vehicles involved were plying without valid Fitness Certificate, Permit and Insurance. It noted that such weak enforcement exposes accident victims and their families to serious hardship, especially when the offending vehicle is uninsured or non-compliant.
The letter also referred to the Supreme Court judgment in Paramjit Bhasin & Others v. Union of India & Others dated 09.11.2005. The Court had held that the power of compounding cannot be exercised in a manner which authorises continuation of the offence.
Accordingly, all RTOs, Addl. RTOs and enforcement officials have been directed to strictly comply with the instructions with immediate effect. Officials have been asked to ensure initiation of RC suspension/cancellation and permit action, and to review cases where challans under Section 192/192A were issued without corresponding seizure under Section 207.
