[Coronavirus Lockdown] Validity of Fitness Certificates, Driving Licences, Permits etc. extended

The Central Government has intimated that the validity of documents under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 would stand extended until June 30, in view of the national lockdown in place to curb the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)..The documents so extended include Fitness certificates, Permit (all types), Driving License and Registration documents. The order would cover all documents that were subsisting as of February 1, 2020. The advisory issued in this regard states that the validity of these documents have been extended to June 30. ."... for the requirements of the validity of the documents under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 it is advised that the validity of Fitness, Permit (all types), Driving License, Registration or any other concerned document (s) whose extension of validity could not or not likely to processed due to lock-down and which have expired since 1st of Feb, 2020 or would expire by 30th of June 2020, the same may be treated to be valid up till 30th of June 2020. Enforcement authorities are advised to treat such documents valid till 30th of June 2020."Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways.Further, the Government has also directed that the “Non-use clause facility” be invoked to suspend the tax liabilities of transport vehicles that are not being used during the lockdown. In this regard, the advisory states, .“Non-use clause facility” for transport vehicles for suspension of tax liability, which is operational in a number of states and the facilities is being provided by NIC on the VAHAN platform online, may be adopted by other states to give relief to commercial vehicles like tax, buses etc. which are non-operational under the current circumstances."Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways.The advisory was issued after the Government was apprised that people were facing difficulties in renewing such documents due to complete lockdown and closure of Government Transport Offices. .The Central Government has now directed that this advisory be complied with in letter and spirit also so that people, transporters and other organisations rendering essential services are not unduly harassed during this period..HT Chetan Bhutani