The registering authority may, by order, refuse to register any motor vehicle, or renew the certificate of registration in respect of a motor vehicle (other than a transport vehicle), if in either case, the registering authority has reason to believe that it is a stolen motor vehicle or the vehicle is mechanically defective or fails to comply with the requirements of this Act or of the rules made thereunder, or if the applicant fails to furnish particulars of any previous registration of the vehicle or furnishes inaccurate particulars in the application for registration of the vehicle or, as the case may be, for renewal of the certificate of registration thereof and the registering authority shall furnish the applicant whose vehicle is refused registration, or whose application for renewal of the certificate of registration is refused, a copy of such order, together with the reasons for such refusal.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 45
Section 45 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 delineates the statutory grounds and procedural requirements under which a registering authority must refuse to register a motor vehicle or decline to renew its certificate of registration.
If an RTO verbally refuses to register a newly purchased commercial vehicle or EV, file an application demanding a formal written order under Section 45(2). Once the speaking order is obtained, challenge it before the State Transport Appellate Tribunal (STAT) under Section 57, demonstrating compliance with ARAI/ICAT homologation certificates.