Maintenance of State Registers of Motor Vehicles
Section 63 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with maintenance of State Registers of Motor Vehicles. Each State Government shall maintain in such form as may be prescribed by the Central Government a register to be known as the State Register of Motor Vehicles, in respect of the motor vehicles in that State, containing the particulars including (a) registration numbers; The Act came into force on 01 Jul 1989.
1[63. Maintenance of State Registers of Motor Vehicles.-- (1) Each State Government shall maintain in such form as may be prescribed by the Central Government a register to be known as the State Register of Motor Vehicles, in respect of the motor vehicles in that State, containing the particulars including
(a) registration numbers;
(b) years of manufacture;
(c) classes and types;
(d) names and addresses of registered owners; and
(e) such other particulars as may be prescribed by the Central Government.]
(2) Each State Government shall supply to the Central Government 2[if so desired by it] a printed copy of the State Register of Motor Vehicles and shall also inform the Central Government without delay of all additions to and other amendments in such register made from time to time.
(3) The State Register of Motor Vehicles shall be maintained in such manner as may be prescribed by the State Government.]
Section 63, The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (Act 59 of 1988).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Referred to by 1
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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The State of Madhya Pradesh Transport Department Secretary vs Rakesh Sethi
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
The State Government has the constitutional and statutory authority to prescribe fees for the reservation and allotment of specific registration marks to motor vehicles under Rule 55A of the Madhya Pradesh Motor Vehicles Rules, 1994. This authority derives from: (1) Section 41(6) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which creates a two-step process of Central allotment of series and State assignment of specific numbers; (2) Section 65(1) of the Act, which grants the State general power to make rules for carrying into effect the provisions of the registration chapter; (3) Section 211 of the Act, which is a residual provision granting power to the State to levy fees for services rendered, notwithstanding the absence of express provision, provided the State is empowered to make rules on that subject; and (4) the principle that when a central enactment clothes the state with the power to perform a function, an implicit power to charge a reasonable fee for that function must be read into the state's power. The assignment of specific registration numbers is a distinct service for which the State can legitimately charge a fee, as it involves administrative work and caters to public demand for auspicious and numerologically significant numbers. The power to prescribe fees for registration under Section 41(2) relates only to the general registration process, not to the assignment of specific numbers. Rule 55A is therefore valid and within the State's authority.
On this section: Relates to maintenance of State Register of Motor Vehicles; cited as an example of administrative functions
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument states that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
Questions about Section 63
What have the courts held on Section 63 of the Motor Vehicles Act?
The State of Madhya Pradesh Transport Department Secretary vs Rakesh Sethi (26 Aug 2020) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Relates to maintenance of State Register of Motor Vehicles; cited as an example of administrative functions.
How do I find court cases under Section 63 of the Motor Vehicles Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: MV Act 63, section 63 MV Act, section 63 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with The State of Madhya Pradesh Transport Department Secretary vs Rakesh Sethi (26 Aug 2020).
What should I read with Section 63 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and has it changed?
1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there is one: most recently 6th G.S.R 240(E) dated 31.03.2021 Committe A licensing of drivers (2021).
When did Section 63 of the Motor Vehicles Act come into force?
Section 63 of the Motor Vehicles Act, cited as MV Act 63, came into force on 01 Jul 1989, having been enacted on 14 Oct 1988. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions1948 words
- 88. Validation of permits for use outside region in which granted1560 words
- 51. Special provisions regarding motor vehicle subject to hire-purchase agreement, etc1199 words
- 150. Duty of insurers to satisfy judgments and awards against persons insured in respect of third party risks1102 words
- 96. Power of State Government to make rules for the purposes of this Chapter995 words
- 72. Grant of stage carriage permits868 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.