Traffic Offences (Special Courts) Ordinance, 1981

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THE TRAFFIC OFFENCES (SPECIAL COURTS) ORDINANCE, 
1981 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS             
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2.  Definitions 
3. Constitution of Special Courts 
4. Jurisdiction of Special Court 
5.  Transfer of pending cases  
6.  Appeal 
7.  Power to make rules 
 
 

 
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THE TRAFFIC OFFENCES (SPECIAL COURTS) ORDINANCE, 1981. 
 
ORDINANCE No. XXXIX OF 1981 
  
[29th December, 1981]  
 
An Ordinance to constitute Special Courts for the speedy disposal of cases pertaining to traffic 
offences. 
 WHEREAS it  is expedient to constitute Special Courts for the speedy disposal of cases 
pertaining to traffic offences and for matters connected therewith and ancillary thereto; 
  AND WHEREAS the President is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessar y 
to take immediate action; 
  NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of the Proclamation of the fifth day of July, 1977, read 
with the Provisional Constitution Order, 1981, and in exercise of all powers enabling him in that 
behalf, the President is pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance:— 
  1. Short title, extent and commencement .___(1) This Ordinance may be called the Traffic 
Offences (Special Courts) Ordinance, 1981. 
  
(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan. 
  
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
  
2. Definitions . In  this Ordinance, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or 
context,—  
  
(a) “Special Court” means a Special Court constituted under section 3; and 
  
(b) “traffic offence ” means an offence punishable under the Provincial Motor  
Vehicles Ordinance, 1965 (W.P Ordinance No. XIX of 1965). 
  
 3. Constitution of Special Courts .___(1) The Provincial Government shall, by notification in 
the official Gazette, constitute, for the whole or any part of the Province, a Special Court  consisting 
of a person who is—  
 
(a) a local dignitary; or 
  
(b) a member of a Local Council constituted under the law relating to local 
government; or 
  
(c) an advocate of not less than five years' standing; or 
  
(d) a serving Magistrate. 
 
(2) A Special Court shall sit at such place as the Provincial Government may direct. 
 
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(3) The terms and conditions of a person appointed as a Special Court shall be such as the 
Provincial Government may determine. 
  
(4) A Special Court shall have all the powers conferred by the Code of Criminal Procedure, 
1898 (Act V of 1898), on a Magistrate of the first Class. 
  
(5) A Special Court shall follow the procedure prescribed by the Code of Criminal Procedure, 
1898 (Act V of 1898), for trial of cases by Magistrates, and a person condu cting prosecution before a 
Special Court shall be deemed to be a Public Prosecutor. 
  
1[(5A) A Special Court may, if it thinks fit, try a traffic offence in a summary way in 
accordance with the provisions contained in s ections 262 to 265 of the Code of Cri minal Procedure, 
1898 (Act V of 1898)]. 
  
(6) All proceedings before a Special Court shall be deemed to be judicial pro ceedings within 
the meaning of sections 193 and 288 of the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860), and the Special 
Court shall be deemed t o be a Court for the purposes of s ections 480 and 482 of the Code of 
Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898). 
  4. Jurisdiction of Special Court .___(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of 
Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), or the Prov incial Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965 ( W.P 
Ordinance No. XIX of 1965), the traffic offences shall be triable exclusively by a Special Court. 
  
(2) If in the course of a trial before the Special Court, the Court is of opinion that any of the 
offences which the accused is alleged to have committed is not a traffic offence, the Court shall 
record such opinion and try the accused only for such offence, if any, as is a traffic offence. 
  
5. Transfer of pending cases .___(1) Upon the constitution of a Special Cour t, all cases to 
which the jurisdiction of the Special Court extends and which may be pending in any Court 
immediately before the constitution of the Special Court shall stand transferred to the Special Court. 
  
(2) In respect of a case transferred to a Spe cial Court by virtue of sub -section (1), the Special 
Court shall not, by reason of such transfer be bound to recall and rehear any witness who has given 
evidence in the case before the transfer and may act on the evidence already recorded by or produced 
before the Court which tried the case before the Transfer. 
  
6. Appeal. An appeal from a judgment of a Special Court shall lie to the Court of Session 
2[except in a case tried summarily in which a Special Court passes a sentence of fine not exceeding 
two thousand rupees only]. 
   
7. Power to make r ules. The Provincial Government may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance. 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Ins. by the Traffic Offences (Special Courts) (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1982 (24 of 1982), s. 2.  
2 Ins. ibid., s.3.