Validity for Documents prescribed under the MV Act, 1988 extended by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highwaystill 31st December 2020 in view of the pandemic

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways took a decision extending the validity of the documents prescribed under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and The Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 till December 31st, 2020 keeping in view the current COVID-19 situation in the country. The documents include the certificate of registration, conductors license, driving license or any other document mentioned under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and all sort of forms from FORM1 to FORM 58 including all other permits mentioned under The Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 and any other document mentioned under the above rules and acts whose extension of validity could not likely be granted due to lockdown and which had expired since 1st Feb 2020 or would expire by 31st Dec 2020 will be treated to be valid till 31st December 2020.

In an order dated 24th March 2020 by the Ministry of Home Affairs in which the government allowed the transport vehicles to run for the availability of essentials items and further opened up for the passenger transport and the ministry noticed the problems faced by the citizens of standing in the long ques in front of the government transport offices hence the ministry took the relevant decision related to the validity of documents.

The advisory issued in this behalf by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways states,

“Taking into consideration the grim situations still continuing due to conditions for prevention of the spread of COVID-19, it is advised that the validity of all the above-referred documents whose extension of validity could not likely be granted due to lockdown and which had expired since 1st Feb 2020 or would expire by 31st Dec 2020, the same may be treated to be valid till 31st of December 2020. Enforcement authorities are advised to treat such documents valid till the 31st of December 2020. This will help out citizens in availing transport-related services.”

The ministry previously issued an advisory on 30th March 2020 and 9th June 2020 to all states and union territories advising the enforcement authorities regarding the extension of validation of documents related to Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and under The Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 whose extension of validity could not likely be granted due to due to lockdown and which had expired since 1st Feb 2020 or would expire by 30th of September 2020 would be treated the same way as it would expire by 30th September 2020 after. The decision for the extension from 30th September to 31st December is been taken after analyzing the current “grim situations” of rapidly spreading COVID 19 in the country the government took this step so that that there stated the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The above advisory has been sent to the DGP, Principle Secretaries/Secretaries of the transport department, the Transport Commissioner of states and union territories, and to the other enforcement authorities of the states and union territories.