Delhi govt to seek legal opinion on new Motor Vehicle Act

The Delhi government is seeking legal opinion before issuing notification on the new Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2019 issued by the Center. The Transport Department has said that it is necessary to get approval from Lt. Governor Anil Baijal before issuing the notification. The department sent the file to Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot. But the Transport Minister has rejected it outright citing the decision of the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court in favour of the Delhi government.

New Delhi: The Delhi government is seeking legal opinion before issuing notification on the new Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2019 issued by the center.

According to a senior official of the transport department, the Delhi government has every right to reduce the penalty imposed by the central government. But at present, the government is taking legal opinion about implementing the decision of the center.

Regarding the Motor Vehicles Act of the central government, the Delhi government has already approved the bill by sending a letter to the Special Commissioner of Transport Police, Traffic Police.

It has already been implemented from 1 September. A notification has not yet been issued by the Delhi government in this regard. It may take three to four days for the government to issue a notification. Till then the traffic police will challan through the court.

The transport department has said that it is necessary to get approval from Lt. Governor Anil Baijal before issuing the notification. The department sent the file to Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot. But the minister has rejected it outright citing the decision of the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court in favour of the Delhi government.

The minister has made it clear that after issuing the notification, a copy should be sent to the Lt. Governor.

Sources in the transport department said that they have sent the file back to the department and asked to submit it afresh.

In such a situation, there may be some delay in issuing notification on the revised Motor Vehicles Act by the government of Delhi.

The minister has made it clear in the file that transport is a state subject and the Lt Governor is not bound to accept the decision of the elected government of the people.

The Delhi government has the right to reduce the compounding penalty out of the heavy fine imposed on those who violate the traffic rules. Right now the government has to decide on whether to reduce the amount of compound fine or not.

Therefore, all courts are being invoiced right now.