Kerala High Court orders action against illegal vehicle modification, filming videos in drivers' cabin

The Kerala High Court recently pulled up State authorities for its failure to curb the unauthorised modifications of vehicles. [Suo Motu v Union of India & Ors.]..While considering a suo motu case dealing with the issue, a Division Bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and Muralee Krishna S viewed video clips of vehicles fitted with illegal LED strips, flashing boards, DJ lights and videography inside the driver's cabin. The Court took note of a clip where a video was being recorded inside the driver's cabin of a moving carriage when the vehicle met with an accident, causing a stage carriage behind it to crash into its rear and suffer extensive front end damage. It observed that such incidents posed grave risk not only to the passengers inside but also to other road users..The Government Pleader representing the State informed that following the Court's earlier order dated November 19, the Transport Commissioner had issued a circular directing all Deputy Transport Commissioners to conduct strict enforcement drives. However, taking note of the continued violations despite repeated judicial instructions, the Court directed enforcement officers, the Transport Commissioner and the State Police Chief to take necessary steps to effectively curb violations of safety standards by initiating stringent action against offenders. The Court also stressed that the use of such vehicles posed serious threats to passenger safety and to other road users, especially when combined with practices such as filming inside driver cabins while the vehicle is in motion.Referring to an earlier order, where the Court had flagged the unauthorised modifications in the KSRTC's 'Munnar Royal View' double-decker bus, it recalled that the bus was fitted with colour changing decorative LED lights and other modifications which were in clear violation of the safety standards.The Court reiterated that such a bus would not be permitted to operate even if the State government granted an exemption under Rule 334 of the Kerala Motor Vehicles Rules (which allows exemption from State rules for certain vehicles), as the same would not override the light and safety requirements prescribed by the Central government.The government pleader informed the Court that the lights from the KSRTC double-decker bus had been removed in compliance with the earlier directions..The Court, then, directed the Registry to forward copies of all video clippings watched during the hearing to the Transport Commissioner and the appropriate officer in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways handling road safety matters."Registry to give a copy of the video clippings to the senior government pleader, senior panel counsel central government, who shall forward the same to Transport Commissioner, Kerala and the concerned officer in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways dealing with the road safety. Transport commissioner shall obtain a report from the concerned enforcement officers regarding the statutory violations noted in the video clippings," the Court said..Kerala High Court orders crackdown on modified vehicles, vloggers taking videos from inside moving vehicles.[Read Order].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.