Uniform pollution certificates of all vehicles to carry owner’s name, number. Check details

KEY STORY

• The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways issued a notification for a common format of the PUC (Pollution Under Control) Certificate to be issued across the country, under Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989.

• The enforcement of PUC certificates would be IT-enabled and would help in better control over polluting vehicles, said the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. Once implemented, the QR code shall be printed on the form which will contain the complete information about the PUC Centre.

• The document will carry information of the vehicle owner such as mobile number, name and address, engine number and chassis number, the ministry said.

• This personal information shall be masked and only the last four digits will be visible on the document to protect the data of the vehicle owner. The owner’s mobile number has been made mandatory, on which an SMS alert will be sent for validation and fee.

• The concept of Rejection slip is also being introduced for the first time. A common format of rejection slip will be given to the vehicle owner in case the test result value is more than the maximum permissible value, as mandated in the concerned emission norms.

• This document can be shown at the service centre for getting the vehicle serviced or can be used, in case the PUCC centre device is not working properly when tested at another centre.

• If the enforcement officer has reason to believe that a motor vehicle is not complying with provisions of Emission standards, he may communicate in writing or through electronic mode to direct the driver or any person in-charge of the vehicle to submit the vehicle for conducting the test in any one of the authorized PUC testing stations.

CONCLUSION

• If the driver or person in-charge of the vehicle fails to submit the vehicle for compliance or the vehicle fails to comply, the owner of the vehicle shall be liable for payment of penalty.

• If the owner fails to comply with this, the registering authority shall suspend the certificate of registration of the vehicle and any permit granted, until a valid PUC certificate is generated.