From 1st October 2020 motor vehicle documents shall not be demanded in physical form by law enforcement officials provided the vehicle owner furnishes the papers through digital means, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has notified.
A slew of amendments have been made to the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, including the one mentioned above, by the ministry to ensure that drivers do not get harassed by officers of the law and also to aid better implementation of traffic rules in the country.
The changes include the use of IT services and electronic monitoring. Thus, even when there are cases where there is an offence made necessitating seizure of documents, officers shall not demand documents in physical form if they are validated through electronic means.
After demanding and inspecting the documents, the date and time stamp of the inspection and the identity of the officer shall be recorded on an IT portal so as to stop unnecessary re-checking or inspection of vehicles.
Details of driving licences that were disqualified or revoked by the licensing authority will also be recorded and updated in the portal. The driver’s behaviour will then be closely monitored. Even E-Challans will also be made available on the govt’s digital portal from now on.
One additional change is with regards to handheld communication devices. Usage of such devices are now allowed solely for route navigation and shall be used in such a manner that it does not distract the driver while on the road.
So, where shall drivers store their motor vehicle documents? Well, they can either choose the Central government’s DigiLocker or m-Parivahan to keep their documents and not worry about carrying physical forms of them anymore.
Motor Vehicle Documents
- MoRTH amends Central Motor Vehicle Rules
- Officers cannot demand physical documents from now on
- That is only if electronic alternative is provided by drivers when asked
