HC modifies order on wrongly parked vehicles

Srinagar, July 22

The J&K High Court has modified the order on wrong parking of vehicles on city roads.

By virtue of an order passed by the HC on May 9, 2017, the owners of the vehicles seized for roadside parking were directed to file an undertaking before the Registrar (Judicial) of the HC to the effect that there would no violation on their part henceforth.

The Registrar (Judicial), on receipt of the application along with the requisite undertaking, was to forward the photocopy of the application to the Mobile Magistrate concerned and he was directed to release the seized vehicles along with the documents.

However, now such applications may be routed directly to the Mobile Magistrates concerned, the HC said in its orders today.

“We feel that the submissions made in the application do require consideration. Accordingly, we modify the order of May 9 by providing that henceforth, for securing the release of the seized vehicle, the application and the undertaking shall be filed before the Mobile Magistrate concerned only, to the effect that no violation will be done in future,” a division bench of the HC said in its orders on Friday.

In order to make meaningful the exercise of securing an undertaking from the defaulter, the Mobile Magistrate shall ensure that the applicant seeking release of the vehicle has not been involved in such violation during the preceding six months, it said.

In case the offender is found to have repeated the offence within six months, the Magistrate may increase the amount of fine so that it serves as a deterrent, the HC said. — TNS