The Madhya Pradesh government has refused to implement the enhanced penal provisions under the amended Motor Vehicle Act, claiming that it is too excessive.

According to Law Minister PC Sharma and transport minister Govind Singh Rajput, it will be implemented only after the amendments are studied by a committee and recommendations are made. 

The provisions of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 was notified last week by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways with effect from September 1. 

“Wrong And Excessive”

“There are several anomalies in the amended act and people are complaining about the steep hike in the penalties. I have directed the transport department to study the act implemented in other states and submit a report in a week,” The Times Of India quoted Rajput as saying.

He added that they do not have a problem if there is a penalty for drunken driving, but they are concerned about women, students and other sections. Therefore, it will only be implemented after proper study.

According to Sharma, meanwhile, the enhanced penalties are too excessive. He clarified that it will not be applicable in the state for now.

“The Central government should review the latest rules. Chief Minister Kamal Nath has said that the notification has not been issued and therefore, from September 1, the traffic rules will not apply here. It will be deliberated upon,” PC Sharma said. 

He thinks that fines like Rs 5000 for driving without helmet or fine of Rs 10,000, under the Central government’s new traffic rules, are “wrong and excessive”.

Under the Act, the amendments have increased many penalties. The penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs has been increased to Rs 10,000 from Rs 2,000. If a person is caught driving a two-wheeler without a helmet, he or she will be liable to a fine of Rs 5000. 

This significant hike has evoked mixed response from the state’s residents. 

Several amendments have been made to the Motor Vehicles Act by the Union government. If a juvenile is responsible for traffic offences, the guardian or owner of the vehicle will be held guilty under the new rule. The guardian may have to face three-year imprisonment or pay a fine of Rs 25,000. The registration of the concerned vehicle will be cancelled and the juvenile will be tried under the Juvenile Justice Act. 

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