A message is circulating rapidly across social media platforms claiming that the Supreme Court of India has declared traffic challans issued based on photographs as illegal effective from January 1, 2026. According to the viral message, a driver’s signature is now mandatory on the challan; otherwise, it will not be considered valid in court.
An investigation by Law Trend has found this claim to be entirely fake and misleading.
The Misleading Claim
The message being shared on social media platforms alleges the following:
“Big order by the Supreme Court! Challans generated by taking photos of the front or rear of vehicles will not be valid in court from January 1, 2026. The driver’s signature is mandatory!!”
Investigation and Facts
Our detailed investigation revealed no such order from the Supreme Court supporting this claim. The reality is quite the opposite. The following facts clarify the legal position:
1. Validity under IT Act and Motor Vehicles Act: Digital evidence, including photographs and videos, is fully legal and admissible under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019. Specifically, Section 136A of the Motor Vehicles Act mandates ‘Electronic Monitoring and Enforcement’ for road safety, providing a statutory basis for camera-based challans.
2. The Supreme Court’s Stance: Contrary to the viral claim, the Supreme Court has consistently issued directions in various judgments to promote the use of technology in ensuring road safety. The Apex Court has explicitly ordered states to increase surveillance through CCTV cameras and speed guns to minimize human intervention and corruption in traffic enforcement.
3. No Requirement for Signatures: The fundamental purpose of the e-Challan system is to detect violations without physically stopping the vehicle, thereby ensuring smooth traffic flow. There is no legal requirement for a driver’s signature on an e-Challan. The notice is validly served by sending it directly to the registered mobile number and address of the vehicle owner based on database records.
4. Stricter Rules in 2026: The government has further tightened traffic regulations in 2026. Under the new ‘Electronic Enforcement’ Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), photographic evidence is often supplemented with video footage to ensure accuracy. Furthermore, provisions are in place to blacklist vehicles and block RC/DL (Registration Certificate/Driving License) services if the challan is not paid within 45 days.
Conclusion
The viral news is completely baseless. The Supreme Court has not imposed any ban on photo-based challans. As of January 1, 2026, the e-Challan system has become more effective and digitally robust.
Readers are advised not to share such unverified news without official confirmation. Traffic rules must be strictly followed, and digital challans should be treated with the same legal weight as physical ones.
