Supreme Court declares modified cars & bikes that change vehicle structure as illegal

January 10: Off and on in almost every city and town of India we come across modified cars and vehicles. In order to show-off, youngsters often change the original structure of the vehicles and modify them as per their taste and wish. Not only in metropolis but even in small towns of Assam, we find such modified vehicles. many a times, we come across such self-modified vehicles in our own valley. But now law has stood in the way of any such modification of cars and bikes.

It is in this regard that the Supreme Court of India has clarified that any type of modification other than the ones done by the manufacturer is against the law. A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Vineet Saran stated that an alteration or a modification is a change in structure which results in changes in basic features of the vehicle. However, the court has left the authorities to decide which modifications can go and which cannot. The bench on Tuesday overturned a Kerala High Court decision and ruled that as mandated under Section 52(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act, the vehicle being registered must meet the “original specifications by the manufacturer”.

The bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Vineet Saran further stated that “No vehicle can be altered so as to change original specification made by a manufacturer. Such particulars cannot be altered which have been specified by the manufacturer for the purpose of entry in the certificate of registration.” So from now onwards, before modifying your vehicle just remember that you are taking the law in your hands and refrain from changing the structure of your vehicle.