How I Settled My ₹20,000 Traffic Challan for Just ₹1,000 Through Delhi’s Lok Adalat
It all started last December when one of my friends borrowed my car to attend a wedding in Faridabad. As soon as he entered Delhi, the traffic police stopped him and discovered that the car’s pollution certificate (PUCC) had expired just two days earlier.
To my surprise, they issued two challans for the same offence—one in my friend’s name (the driver) and another in mine (the owner). Each challan was ₹10,000, making it a whopping ₹20,000 fine in total.
Naturally, I was worried about how to handle it. Then I learned about Lok Adalat, a special court session held every three months in Delhi, where you can settle pending challans at a highly discounted rate. I also came across helpful discussions on Reddit, where users explained how the process works and reassured me it’s completely legitimate.
Booking the Appointment
On May 7, I booked my appointment token online. The website was quite slow, and it took me nearly an hour and a half just to print the token. But I managed to get it done eventually.
The Day of the Lok Adalat
My appointment was scheduled for 10 AM at the Saket Court complex. When I arrived, I was greeted by a huge crowd—hundreds of people waiting to clear their challans. After a quick security check, I entered the air-conditioned court premises, which was quite organized despite the rush.
I located my designated court number and handed over my appointment token to a traffic policeman stationed there. He signed it and submitted it inside. A few minutes later, my car number was called.
Inside the courtroom, the judge sat behind a glass panel. He glanced at my challan details and immediately reduced the fine to ₹1,000 total (₹500 for each offence). I couldn’t believe it! I paid the amount in cash and received a small payment receipt token as proof.
The entire process took about an hour.
What I Observed
Many others around me also got massive reductions—some paid just 10% of their total challan amount. I even met someone who had 80 challans to clear!
The policeman at the gate told me the final disposal would take about a month and advised me to keep the payment token safe until then.
The Aftermath
When I got home, my WhatsApp groups lit up. Everyone wanted to know how I managed to get a ₹20,000 challan cleared for just ₹1,000—without hiring a lawyer or paying anyone under the table.
So here’s the short version for anyone facing a similar issue 👇
TL;DR
✅ Visit the Delhi Lok Adalat when announced.
💸 Pay around 10% of your total challan amount.
📜 Keep your payment token safe until official disposal.
💻 Book your appointment online early to avoid missing the slot.
If you have pending challans, don’t panic. The Lok Adalat is a fair, legal, and hassle-free way to clear your dues—without spending a fortune or dealing with middlemen.
