Add photos, videos of illegal modifications while uploading accident vehicle reports: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has directed the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) to ensure that photographs and videos of of illegal modifications to vehicles involved in accidents must be part of the accident reports uploaded on the Electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) portal [Suo Motu v Union of India & Ors].

Justices Anil K Narendran and Muralee Krishna S gave the directions on October 8, 2026, while considering a suo motu case dealing with road safety and unauthorised modification of vehicles in Kerala.

"We deem it appropriate to direct (the Transport Commissioner), through the concerned Deputy Transport Commissioners, to ensure that vehicle modification details with photographs and videos of vehicles involved in accidents are uploaded through e-DAR portal (www.irad.parivahan.gov.in), by the concerned inspecting officers," the Court said.

Inspecting officers must upload details of any violation of safety standards that raise the risk of injury to the person hit by or brushing against the bodywork of such vehicles, the Court added. 

The Court further directed that details uploaded on the online portal should specifically include illegal alterations made to increase the performance of the vehicle's engine and any changes made to the braking system.

The Court passed the order after noting that the Transport Commissioner had already issued comprehensive instructions on September 17, 2026, to transport officials regarding the inspection of vehicles involved in accidents and the upload of their photos and videos.

The instructions stated that the e-DAR portal provided specific fields to record vehicle modification details and upload photographs and videos of vehicles involved in accidents.

However, it was found that some inspecting officers were bypassing the process of uploading photographs. The commissioner, therefore, issued strict directions to officers to upload colour photographs of the unauthorised modifications found during the inspections.

The commissioner also informed the Court that, although photographs uploaded on e-DAR can be viewed and downloaded online, they did not appear on printed copies of accident inspection reports.

The Court, thus, impleaded the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to address this technical issue and directed the State Police Chief to ensure compliance with its earlier directions on road safety and vehicle modifications.

In its earlier orders, the Court had flagged vehicles fitted with high-intensity lights capable of causing temporary visual disorientation to oncoming drivers and pedestrians.

In its latest order, the Court reiterated that a fine of ₹5,000 should be imposed for each such unauthorised modification, including the fitting of illegal LED lights, neon lights, laser lights, strobe lights, etc., on vehicles.

The matter will be considered next on October 28.

[Read Order]