Page 56 - The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988

42 THE MOTOR VEHICLES ACT, 1988 SECTION 53

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[(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), any person may, with
the subsequent approval of the registering authority, alter or cause to be altered any
vehicle owned by him to be converted into an adapted vehicle:
PROVIDED that such alteration complies with such conditions as may be
prescribed by the Central Government.]
(3) Where any alteration has been made in motor vehicle without the approval of
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registering authority [xxx], the owner of the vehicle shall, within fourteen days of the
making of the alteration, report the alteration to the registering authority within whose
jurisdiction he resides and shall forward the certificate of registration to that authority
together with the prescribed fee in order that particulars of registration may be entered
therein.
(4) A registering authority other than the original registering authority making
any such entry shall communicate the details of the entry to the original registering
authority.
(5) Subject to the provisions made under sub-sections (1), (2), (3) and (4), no person
holding a vehicle under a hire-purchase agreement shall make any alteration to the
vehicle except with the written consent of the registered owner.
Explanation : For the purpose of this section, “alteration” means a change in the
structure of a vehicle which results in a change in its basic feature.]
53. Suspension of registration
(1) If any registering authority or other prescribed authority has reason to believe
that any motor vehicle within its jurisdiction—
(a) is in such a condition that its use in a public place would constitute a danger
to the public, or that it fails to comply with the requirements of this Act or
of the rules made thereunder, or
(b) has been, or is being, used for hire or reward without a valid permit for
being used as such,
the authority may, after giving the owner an opportunity of making any representation
he may wish to make (by sending to the owner a notice by registered post
acknowledgement due at his address entered in the certificate of registration), for reasons
to be recorded in writing, suspend the certificate of registration of the vehicle—
(i) in any case falling under clause (a), until the defects are rectified to its
satisfaction; and
(ii) in any case falling under clause (b), for a period not exceeding four months.

1 Substituted by the Motor Vehicles (Amdt.) Act, 2019 (32 of 2019), dt. 9-8-2019, w.e.f. 1-4-2021 vide
SO 1433(E), dt. 31-3-2021. Prior to substitution, sub-section (2) read as under:
“(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), a State Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, authorise, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the
notification, and permit any person owning not less than ten transport vehicles to alter any vehicle
owned by him so as to replace the engine thereof with engine of the same make and type, without
the approval of registering authority.”
2 Words “or by reason of replacement of its engine without such approval under sub-section (2)”
omitted, ibid.