Kerala HC directs strict action against illegal vehicle modifications
The court noted that the Enforcement wing had not taken any action against vehicles used in public places with wheels projecting outside the vehicles’ bodies
The Kerala High Court has ordered the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) and the Kerala Police to enforce strict penalties on vehicles in public spaces with illegal modifications that violate the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The court highlighted the lack of action taken against vehicles with wheels projecting beyond their bodies, citing a specific case of a modified four-wheeler featured in the media after rescue operations in Adoor following floods caused by torrential rains in early August.
The Transport Commissioner reported that the offending vehicle, equipped with six extra lights, received a ₹5,000 fine and an additional ₹2,000 for a pollution violation. The court requested a comprehensive report on the actions taken against this vehicle and whether any permission was granted for its use in public places.
Justice Anil K. Narendran and S. Muralee Krishna directed that any unauthorized modification to a vehicle, such as aftermarket multifunction lights, red-blue strobe lights, wheel spacers, wide tyres, after-market exhaust systems with 'flame-kits', would incur a fine of ₹5,000 per alteration. The court emphasized that the use of such vehicles in public places without adhering to the provisions of the governing laws would jeopardize the safety of other road users.
The Motor Vehicles Act and subsequent rules cover every aspect of vehicle construction and maintenance; if an aspect was not specified, it was deemed specifically excluded, according to the court.
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