Motor Vehicles Act: Section 62 – Information regarding stolen and recovered motor vehicles to be furnished by the police to the State Transport Authority

The State Government may, if it deems necessary or expedient in the public interest, direct the Inspector General of Police (by whatever designation called) and such other police officers as the State Government may specify, to submit returns containing information regarding vehicles that have been stolen and those that have been recovered. The State Government may prescribe the form in which, and the period within which, such returns shall be made.

Simplified Explanation

Section 62 mandates that whenever a motor vehicle is reported stolen or is recovered by the police, the relevant details must be furnished to the State Transport Authority. This information helps authorities keep records updated and assists in preventing stolen vehicles from being misused, illegally sold, or re-registered without proper checks.

Key Points

  1. Responsibility of the Police:
    • When a motor vehicle is reported stolen, it is the responsibility of the police to gather all necessary information about the vehicle, including its registration details, make, model, and other identifying information.
    • The police must promptly report this information to the State Transport Authority (STA) to ensure the vehicle is flagged in official records as stolen.
  2. Furnishing Information to the STA:
    • In cases where the stolen vehicle is recovered, the police are also required to inform the STA about the recovery.
    • The police must provide accurate and timely information about both the theft and the recovery of the vehicle to ensure that the transport records are updated accordingly.
  3. Purpose of Reporting:
    • The information provided to the STA helps authorities keep a centralized record of stolen vehicles. This ensures that:
      • The stolen vehicle cannot be illegally sold or transferred.
      • The vehicle cannot be re-registered with a different owner using fake or fraudulent documents.
      • Insurance claims and legal issues can be handled efficiently.
    • It also helps in tracking down vehicles that may have been stolen and moved to a different state.
  4. Coordination with Transport Authorities:
    • By furnishing this information to the State Transport Authority, the police assist in creating a comprehensive database of stolen and recovered vehicles, which can be shared with Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across the country.
    • This makes it difficult for stolen vehicles to be used or registered illegally in any part of India.
  5. Updating Vehicle Records:
    • Once the STA receives information about a stolen vehicle, they will flag the vehicle in their database to indicate that it has been stolen. This prevents the vehicle from being transferred or re-registered without proper verification.
    • When the vehicle is recovered, the STA will update the records to reflect that the vehicle is no longer flagged as stolen.
  6. Importance for Vehicle Owners:
    • Vehicle owners whose vehicles have been stolen should report the theft to the police as soon as possible, as the information will be passed to the STA to help track the vehicle.
    • If the vehicle is recovered, the owners will need to work with both the police and the transport authorities to retrieve their vehicle and update its status in official records.

Example Scenario

Suppose a car is stolen in Pune. The owner reports the theft to the local police station, and the police begin investigating. As required by Section 62, the police must inform the State Transport Authority (STA) of Maharashtra about the stolen car, including details like the vehicle’s registration number and description. The STA then flags the vehicle in its database, preventing it from being transferred or re-registered illegally. If the police later recover the vehicle, they must again inform the STA to update the records, removing the stolen flag from the vehicle’s registration.

Importance

This section is essential for preventing the illegal sale or re-registration of stolen vehicles and helps create a coordinated effort between law enforcement and transport authorities to track stolen vehicles. It ensures that stolen vehicles are not misused or transferred to new owners without proper legal procedures.

Conclusion

Section 62 of the Motor Vehicles Act requires the police to provide information about stolen and recovered motor vehicles to the State Transport Authority. This helps in maintaining accurate records, preventing the misuse of stolen vehicles, and assisting in the recovery process.

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