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Section 63: Maintenance of State Registers of Motor Vehicles

Motor Vehicles Act • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide

Statutory Regulation
Legal Standard
Competent Court / Tribunal
Act 1988
Section 62 All 217 Sections of Motor Vehicles Act Section 64

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 63

Section 63 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 mandates the compilation, continuous maintenance, and digital transmission of State Registers of Motor Vehicles by State Governments to the Central Government, forming the statutory bedrock for the nationwide National Register of Motor Vehicles (VAHAN).

  • Statutory Mandate for State Vehicle Registry: Each State Government must maintain a comprehensive State Register of Motor Vehicles in prescribed electronic format containing full technical, owner, hypothecation, and tax details of every registered vehicle within the State.
  • Transmission to Central Government and National Register: State Governments are statutorily required to supply periodic returns and real-time electronic copies of the State Register to the Central Government to populate the unified National Register under Section 63(3).
  • Evidentiary Authenticity and Public Document Status: State and National Registers maintained under Section 63 constitute official public records under Section 74 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (now BSA, 2023), carrying a statutory presumption of correctness regarding recorded ownership.
Key Landmark Precedents:
  • Naveen Kumar v. Vijay Kumar (2018) 3 SCC 1: The Supreme Court held that the person whose name is reflected in the official Register of Motor Vehicles maintained under Section 63 remains the statutory 'owner' under Section 2(30) for third-party compensation claims, regardless of any unrecorded private sale agreements.
  • Pushpa alias Leela v. Shakuntala (2011) 1 SCC 615: The Supreme Court held that where the transfer of a vehicle is not officially updated in the State Register maintained under Section 63, the registered owner continues to be strictly liable along with the actual possessor for motor accident liabilities.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

In MACT claim petitions and subrogation recovery actions, produce certified extracts from the VAHAN National/State Register under Section 63. Certified VAHAN records conclusively establish statutory ownership under Section 2(30), precluding unregistered transferees from disputing ownership status and evading joint and several compensation liability.

Section 62 All 217 Sections of Motor Vehicles Act Section 64