Jammu & Kashmir court imposes ₹5k fine on man for making illegal modifications to his vehicle

A Jammu & Kashmir court on Wednesday imposed fine of ₹5,000 on one Zahid Iqbal Wani for carrying out illegal modifications to his Mahindra Thar vehicle in contravention of Section 52 of Indian Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 (MV Act) [UT of Jammu and Kashmir V/s Zahid Iqbal Wani]..The judgment was passed after the violator appeared before the court and pleaded guilty for modifying/ altering the vehicle in question from its original condition, as specified in the registration certificate (RC) of the vehicle."Since the violator has contravened the provision of MV Act, therefore after considering the fact that no previous violation has been proved and after taking a lenient view, a fine of Rs. 5000 only, is imposed and in default of payment of fine he shall suffer one-month simple imprisonment. The challan is accordingly disposed of and shall be consigned to records after its due completion," the judgment said. .Additional Special Mobile Magistrate (Traffic), Srinagar Shabir Ahmad Malik also directed RTO Kashmir to remove all the modifications and restore the vehicle to its original state.."The RTO Kashmir at Srinagar is directed to remove all the modifications those were done in contravention to the provisions of Motor Vehicle Act and rules and restore the vehicle (Thar) to its original position as specified in thee Registration Certificate (RC) of the vehicle originally specified by the manufacturer," the judgment said. .The equipment/ fittings so removed should be returned to the violator against proper receipt and the cost of removing the modifications as well as restoring the vehicle to its original position shall be recovered from the violator, the Court added. The entire incident shall be videographed and the same shall be submitted before the court, the judgment further directed..The Court also directed Deputy Inspector General, Traffic to take strict action against those who have modified vehicles in contravention of law."As per section 52 of MV Act, no motor vehicle shall be modified or altered from its original position in contravention to the provisions of Motor Vehicle Act and without the permission from the concerned authority," the Court said..[Read Judgment]