LHC introduces transport monetisation policy for Punjab judicial officers

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has rolled out a transport monetisation policy for judicial officers in Punjab’s district judiciary, allowing eligible officers to buy their officially allotted vehicles at depreciated prices under a scheme approved by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum.

According to a notification issued by the LHC registrar, the policy was cleared in line with decisions of the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee and the Punjab cabinet. The notification said the policy will apply retrospectively from July 1, 2026.

Allowance to replace official transport perks

Under the new framework, judicial officers will no longer be entitled to official fuel, maintenance or driver facilities for personal use. Instead, they will receive a monthly transport monetisation allowance. The notification said the allowance rates will be fixed by the competent authority and reviewed from time to time in accordance with fuel prices and broader economic conditions.

A central feature of the policy is the option for judicial officers to purchase the official vehicles currently assigned to them through a one-time payment at a depreciated price. Officers who do not opt to buy the vehicles will have to return them immediately to the relevant district and sessions judge.

How vehicle prices will be calculated

The notification said the depreciated price will be worked out by applying a 15 per cent reduction in the first year and 10 per cent for every following year to the original purchase cost of the vehicle. It added, however, that the sale price cannot be less than Rs200,000 for vehicles up to 1000cc and Rs250,000 for vehicles with engine capacity of 1300cc and above.

Payment must be made in a single lump sum through a pay order or demand draft in favour of the LHC registrar. Officers seeking to purchase vehicles will also have to furnish a formal undertaking accepting the terms laid down for the sale.

Registration and eligibility conditions

After purchase, the vehicles will have to be registered as private vehicles. The notification said government registration numbers and green number plates must be surrendered, while re-registration, transfer charges and all applicable taxes will be paid by the purchasing officer.

The policy states that only those officers who were officially allotted vehicles by the Lahore High Court can avail the purchase option. It also extends the facility to the widow or spouse of a judicial officer who dies during service, allowing them to buy the vehicle at the depreciated rate subject to approval and prescribed procedure.

Judicial officers facing disciplinary proceedings and those who have already surrendered official vehicles will generally not qualify under the policy. Probationary officers, however, may use the facility subject to specific conditions set out in the notification.

The notification further directed that every district must keep a centralised pool of official vehicles strictly for official and protocol assignments. Any surplus vehicles emerging after implementation of the monetisation policy are to be reported to the high court without delay.