LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has introduced a new ‘compulsory’ “Transport Monetisation Policy” allowing judicial officers across Punjab’s district judiciary to purchase their officially allotted vehicles at depreciated prices or surrender them and receive monthly monetisation allowance.
According to a notification issued by the LHC registrar, the policy has been approved by Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum in pursuance of the decisions of the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC) and the Punjab Cabinet.
The objective of the policy, which has taken effect retrospectively from July 1, 2026, is to align with austerity measures, eliminate misuse of official vehicles and minimise POL and maintenance expenditure, said the notification.
Under the new policy, judicial officers will no longer receive official fuel, maintenance, or driver facilities for personal use. Instead, they will be paid a monthly transport monetisation allowance, the rates of which will be determined by the competent authority and revised periodically in line with fuel prices and economic conditions.
Judicial officers can buy allotted vehicles at depreciated price or opt for surrender; purchase option available to widow or spouse of officer who dies while in service
A key feature of the policy is that judicial officers have been given the option to purchase the official vehicles currently allotted to them at a depreciated lump-sum price. Officers who decline the offer will be required to surrender their vehicles immediately to the respective district and sessions judge.
The notification states that the depreciated value of the vehicles will be calculated by applying 15 per cent depreciation for the first year and 10pc for each subsequent year on the original purchase price.
However, the sale price cannot fall below Rs200,000 for vehicles up to 1000cc and Rs250,000 for vehicles of 1300cc and above, it adds. Payment for the vehicles must be made in a single lump sum through a pay order or demand draft in favour of the LHC registrar. Eligible officers must also submit a formal undertaking accepting the terms of the purchase.
After purchasing the vehicles, judicial officers will be required to register them as private vehicles.
Government registration numbers and green number plates must be surrendered, while all re-registration, transfer and applicable taxes will be borne by the purchasing officer.
The policy clarifies that only officers to whom vehicles have been officially allotted by the Lahore High Court are eligible to purchase them.
The notification also extends the purchase option to the widow or spouse of a judicial officer who dies while in service, enabling them to buy the vehicle at the depreciated price, subject to approval and prescribed procedures.
Judicial officers facing disciplinary proceedings or those who have already surrendered official vehicles are generally ineligible, although probationary officers may avail themselves of the facility subject to specific conditions.
The LHC has further directed that each district will maintain a centralised pool of official vehicles exclusively for official and protocol duties, while any surplus vehicles resulting from the monetisation policy must be reported to the high court immediately.
Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2026