Bhubaneswar, Feb. 10 -- In a significant ruling related to Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCC), the Orissa High Court has made it mandatory for vehicle owners to clear all pending traffic challans before obtaining a PUCC.

The court directed that a Pollution Under Control Certificate cannot be issued unless outstanding challans against the vehicle are paid in full. This important clarification was made during the hearing of a related case, which was subsequently disposed of by the High Court.

Providing information to the court, Advocate General Pitambar Acharya, appearing on behalf of the state government, submitted that the provision is in accordance with Section 167, Sub-section (12) of the Motor Vehicles Act. He argued that th...