The Delhi government has announced the launch of weekend traffic courts starting July 5, 2026, aimed at clearing the backlog of over 1.5 crore pending challans. This initiative, confirmed by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, is designed to provide citizens with a more accessible option to address traffic violations without taking time off work during weekdays.
Weekend Court Schedule and Venues
The weekend traffic courts will operate on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 AM to 5 PM. Initially, they will be set up at two locations: the Tis Hazari Courts Complex and the Rohini Courts Complex. Additional venues may be added based on public response. Each court will have dedicated benches to handle cases related to traffic challans, including those for overspeeding, red-light jumping, and parking violations.
According to the Transport Department, the backlog of pending challans has accumulated over several years due to limited court capacity and the high volume of violations. The weekend courts are expected to process at least 5,000 cases per day, significantly reducing the burden on regular courts.
How Citizens Can Benefit
Individuals with pending challans can visit the weekend courts to either pay the fine or contest the violation. The process has been streamlined: citizens need to bring their challan notice, vehicle registration documents, and a valid ID proof. Payment can be made via debit/credit card, UPI, or cash. For those contesting, a hearing will be scheduled on the same day.
Transport Minister Gahlot stated, "This initiative will help citizens resolve their traffic challans conveniently and reduce the pressure on our judicial system. We urge everyone with pending challans to take advantage of these weekend courts." The government has also launched a dedicated helpline and website where citizens can check their pending challans and book appointments for weekend court visits.
Impact on Traffic Violation Management
The weekend courts are part of a broader effort by the Delhi government to improve traffic enforcement and compliance. In 2025, the city recorded over 4 million traffic challans, with only about 40% being paid on time. The backlog has led to increased penalties for defaulters, including suspension of driving licenses.
By offering weekend courts, the government hopes to encourage voluntary compliance and reduce the number of cases that escalate to higher courts. Additionally, the revenue from fines will be used to fund road safety initiatives and traffic infrastructure improvements.
Legal experts have welcomed the move, noting that it will ease the workload of regular courts and provide quicker justice. However, some have raised concerns about the potential for overcrowding on weekends and have suggested that the government also consider online dispute resolution mechanisms.
Public Response and Next Steps
The announcement has received positive feedback from citizens, many of whom have long complained about the difficulty of resolving challans during weekdays. A resident of Dwarka, Ramesh Kumar, said, "I have three pending challans from last year, but I couldn't take time off work to go to court. Now I can go on a Sunday and get it sorted."
The Delhi Traffic Police will deploy additional personnel at the weekend court locations to manage crowds and assist citizens. The government plans to review the initiative after three months and consider expanding it to other districts based on demand.
