CM VD Satheesan's answer to vehicle modification question goes viral: Here's why it's a big deal in Kerala

Newly appointed Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan held his first press conference on Monday, hours after assuming office and holding the first meeting of his cabinet. While the announcement of free rides in KSRTC buses for women, setting up of a new department for senior citizens and hike in payments to Asha workers grabbed the headlines, vehicle enthusiasts in the state also had a lot to cheer about.

Kerala CM to permit vehicle modifications

The CM replied with a smile and a nod when asked about permission to modify the vehicle.

“We promised to legalize it. It was a demand of many young people and it will be fulfilled,” Satheesan said.

What the UDF manifesto said

During the election campaign, Satheesan also promised that if the UDF is elected to power, the new government will allow “safe” vehicle modifications. The election program of the UDF promised the same.

Read also | From economy to careful balancing: Biggest challenges for Kerala CM Satheesan

Under the UDF election platform, safe developments, those that do not compromise road safety, noise or pollution standards, would be allowed.

Acknowledging the passion of car enthusiasts, Satheesan said that modification in itself should not be considered a crime.

Kerala MVD crackdown on vehicle modifications

This is in stark contrast to the previous CPI-M-led LDF government, which saw the Kerala Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) enforce a crackdown on vehicle modifications.

Even minor modifications, including lights and horns, resulted in a minimal penalty ₹5,000 when installing modified exhausts, a fine of up to ₹10,000.

Read also | VD Satheesan is the new Chief Minister of Kerala.

According to Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act, repeated violations would also result in doubling the penalties, suspension of the Registration Certificate (RC) and confiscation of the vehicle.

The Kerala High Court also directed the MVD to severely punish illegal modifications and deny certificate of fitness to non-compliant vehicles.

As the previous transport minister said

KB Gansesh Kumar, who held the transport portfolio during the previous LDF government, trashed Satheesan’s promises, pointing out that rules for vehicle modifications are laid down in a central law and not in the state.

What the Motor Vehicle Act says

According to Section 52 of the Central Motor Vehicles Act (1988), no owner of a motor vehicle may modify the vehicle in such a way that the information on the registration certificate is inconsistent with the information originally specified by the manufacturer.

However, minor modifications that do not alter the basic identity or structural integrity of the vehicle, such as minor cosmetic changes, paint repaint, or changing to a different fuel/battery system, are permitted if the vehicle owner has obtained approval from the registration authority to make such a change.

What the Supreme Court said

In 2019, the Supreme Court in a landmark decision banned design modifications that change the original specifications certified by the manufacturer. The court ruled that vehicles that undergo major structural modifications to the body, chassis or engine cannot be registered.

Read also | Motor Vehicle Law: Penalties in different states for traffic violations

The Supreme Court also said that provisions and restrictions under central legislation supersede any conflicting or lenient state-specific rules.

Key things

New CM VD Satheesan aims to fulfill the promises made during the elections regarding vehicle modifications.
The proposed changes represent a shift from strict regulations to a more friendly approach for car enthusiasts.
Legalizing safe modifications could increase road safety and at the same time allow personal expression between vehicle owners.