- The validity of all expired transport documents such as driving license, registration, fitness, permit among others has been extended September 30 to December 31
In a tweet on August 24, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari announced further extension of the validity date of motor vehicle documents till December 31, 2020. Accordingly, the Ministry has issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories to this effect.
Earlier, MoRTH had issued an advisory on the 30th March to all States and Union Territories wherein it was advised that the validity of Fitness, Permit (all types), Driving License, Registration or any other concerned document whose extension of validity could not or not likely be granted due to lock-down and which had expired since February 1, 2020 or would expire till 31st of May 2020, the same may be treated to be valid till 31st of May 2020 for enforcement purposes.
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Enforcement authorities were advised to treat such documents valid till 30th of September, 2020. However, considering the situation for prevention of COVID-19 still continues, and as per the requests received, Nitin Gadkari directed the Ministry to issue advised for extension of this period till December 31 for treating the documents valid for enforcement purposes.
Later, in order to facilitate citizens during period and conditions for prevention for COVID–19, MoRTH had issued a gazette notification on 21st May 2020 relaxing the fees validity and/or additional fee under Rule 32 or Rule 81 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, till 31st July 2020.
As per this notification, the fees paid on or after February 1 for these activities such as renewal, will continue to remain valid even if the process is not completed. “And if there is a delay in paying the fees from February 1 till the period of lockdown, there would not be any additional or late fee to be charged for such delays till July 31,” the notification said.
Now, the State and Union Territories have also been requested to consider provisions available under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 or other such provisions available under other Acts, for considering relaxation in requirement of permit, or fees or taxes for renewal/penalty for permits etc to provide relief during these extraordinary circumstances of COVID-19.