Patna : The Bihar Transport Department has reduced the period used to calculate penalties for vehicles operating without valid permits from a maximum of 30 days to seven days, offering relief to vehicle owners.
The State Transport Commissioner’s office has issued an order directing all District Transport Officers (DTOs) to implement the revised rule. Under the order, penalties for unauthorised vehicle operations will be calculated for a maximum of seven days instead of the earlier 30-day period.
The revised instructions also cover vehicles for which penalties exceeding seven days have already been imposed. District Transport Officers have been directed to restrict the recovery amount to the equivalent of seven days.
Why the penalty period was reduced
According to the Transport Department, cases of vehicles operating on roads without valid permits had come to light during meetings of the State Transport Authority.
Earlier, officials had been instructed to examine the preceding 30 days of a vehicle’s operation and impose penalties based on the period of unauthorised use. The measure was intended to address revenue losses caused by vehicles operating without the required permits.
However, several vehicle owners subsequently sought a reduction in the penalty amount and requested relief. After considering these requests, the authority reduced the maximum penalty calculation period from 30 days to seven days.
Rs 10,000 penalty provision remains
The report states that the Motor Vehicles Act provides for a penalty of Rs 10,000 for both the first offence and subsequent offences in the cases covered by the provision.
The latest order changes the maximum period used for calculating the penalty in these cases; it does not state that the statutory penalty amount itself has been reduced.
DTOs have been instructed to ensure that vehicle owners charged for more than seven days are asked to pay only the amount calculated for a maximum of seven days.
Vehicle owners must submit payment proof
Vehicle owners will have to deposit the applicable penalty and submit proof of payment to the State Transport Authority’s office.
The payment receipt will be required for processing the issuance of pending permits, according to the report.
The revised instructions are intended to provide relief to vehicle owners while allowing the department to continue action against vehicles operating without valid permits. Owners must still comply with the applicable permit requirements and other provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.
