MP govt considers move against HC checkpost ruling:Transporters fear reopening RTO barriers can revive extortion network

The Madhya Pradesh government is preparing to challenge the High Court’s order directing the reopening of all RTO checkposts within 30 days. It is currently seeking legal opinion before moving a division bench. Meanwhile, the All India Motor Transport Association is also planning to file a petition against the ruling. This raises key questions: why were authorities ordered to reopen checkposts that were shut down two years ago over allegations of illegal collections, and will their return actually boost government revenue? A Bhaskar investigation found that checkposts generated ₹150 crore in revenue in 2014, but this dropped to ₹70 crore by 2022, even as complaints of illegal collections increased. To assess the possible impact of reopening these checkposts, Bhaskar also spoke with experts. Read the Monday Story. Why the issue matters The key question is why checkposts—shut down two years ago following complaints of illegal collections—are being ordered to reopen, and whether this will lead to any real increase in government revenue. A Bhaskar investigation found that revenue from checkposts declined from ₹150 crore in 2014 to ₹70 crore in 2022, even as complaints of extortion rose. What the High Court said On April 22, 2026, the Jabalpur High Court, while hearing a contempt petition filed by Rajneesh Tripathi, ordered that all checkposts be made operational within 30 days. The petition stated that: The court noted that the government had earlier assured continuation of checkposts but shut them down on June 30, 2024. Justice Vishal Mishra termed this a violation of both the court’s order and the government’s assurance. According to the court: It also observed that mobile units and the faceless system were ineffective, adding that a government assurance carries the same binding value as a court order. Why the government shut checkposts earlier According to government sources, RTO checkposts had become hubs of extortion, damaging the state’s image. There was also pressure at the central level. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, in a letter dated July 16, 2022, raised concerns over illegal collections with then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bais. On June 30, 2024, the state government shut down checkposts and introduced a “checkpoint” system from July 1, based on a Gujarat-style faceless and barrier-free model. However, even after two years, the system has not been effectively implemented on the ground, and informal collections reportedly continued. Transport bodies fear return of ‘Inspector Raj’ Transport associations have questioned whether checkposts were intended to curb overloading or function as centers of extortion. C.L. Mukati, Chairman of the All India Transport Congress, warned that reopening checkposts could: He noted that revenue halved between 2014 and 2022, even as illegal collections increased. Allegations against the government’s legal stand Mukati said that while the association respects the High Court’s order, the mechanism for vehicle inspection has not been clearly defined. He alleged that the government failed to present its case strongly in court. According to him, the state should have argued that: Illegal collections never really stopped Checkposts in Madhya Pradesh have long been associated with “private collectors”—individuals in plain clothes who allegedly extorted ₹500 to ₹5,000 from truck drivers. A past case involving former transport department constable Saurabh Sharma illustrated how such practices enabled individuals to accumulate significant wealth within a short period. After checkposts were shut, 45 “checkpoints” were established, but illegal collections reportedly continued—the locations changed, but the system did not. Senior journalist N.K. Singh noted that even the government acknowledges that checkposts had become centres of illegal collection, an issue repeatedly flagged by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Experts suggest alternatives Experts believe there are multiple ways to curb overloading without harassing truck drivers and operators, especially at a time when freight movement has become increasingly critical due to global conditions.