The Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Central Government on a plea by vintage car owner Parmeet Singh Bhalla, seeking to retain his car’s original registration number, “DHB 0059.” The petition emphasizes preserving the cultural significance of vintage vehicles’ historic registration identities.
New Delhi: In a significant case for vintage car enthusiasts, the Delhi High Court on Friday issued a notice to the Central Government regarding a plea to retain the original registration number of a vintage car. The petition, filed by vintage car owner Parmeet Singh Bhalla, seeks the court’s intervention to prevent his car’s registration number, “DHB 0059,” from being replaced by a new one. Justice Prateek Jalan issued a notice to the Central Government, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NIC, and others involved, demanding their response within four weeks. The next hearing has been scheduled for February 24, 2025.
Bhalla’s counsel, Advocates Sanjay Dewan and Rhea Gandhi, argued that as per recent policy, a vintage vehicle’s original registration number can be retained. However, due to a technical issue in the VAHAN portal, his vintage car, registered in 1972, was assigned a new registration number. The car, a 1965 Cadillac, has changed ownership multiple times, making the original registration number integral to preserving its historical and cultural identity.
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The petition argues that the old registration number represents the “heart and soul” of the vintage vehicle and that issuing a new number would strip away its historical significance. Advocate Rhea Gandhi, representing Bhalla, emphasized that the registration number of a vintage vehicle is a core aspect of its legacy and should not be casually altered.
In 2021, the government addressed the regulation of vintage vehicles, introducing the Central Motor Vehicles (Fifteenth Amendment) Rules, 2021 through a Gazette Notification on July 15, 2021. These rules officially defined what constitutes a “vintage vehicle” and provided guidelines for registering vintage vehicles across India, which was previously unregulated in many states. The new rules were aimed at streamlining the registration process for vehicles over 50 years old, allowing them to retain their original numbers as long as they met preservation standards.
The petition highlights that Rule 81 B (3) and (4) of the 2021 Rules specifically permit vehicles with existing valid registrations and papers to retain their original numbers. Only unregistered vehicles or those lacking the requisite documents would receive new series registration numbers.
The plea states that Bhalla’s Cadillac qualifies as a “vintage motor vehicle” under these rules, as it has crossed the 50-year threshold and has been preserved in its original form. Bhalla had complied with the registration requirements on the VAHAN portal and paid the necessary ₹20,000 fee as mandated under the 2021 Rules. However, instead of allowing him to retain “DHB 0059,” the system automatically issued a new registration, “DL VA 1317.”
The petitioner argues that this action contradicts the intent of the 2021 Rules and reflects a misunderstanding in the rule’s implementation. According to the plea, the VAHAN portal lacks an option to retain old registration numbers, which has created confusion among car owners. Bhalla’s interaction with RTO officials revealed that vintage cars are being assigned new numbers due to unclear instructions on how to handle vehicles with existing registrations.
This case raises an important question about the preservation of vintage vehicles’ identities. Retaining an original number is seen by collectors as essential to preserving a vehicle’s historical authenticity. The petition seeks to prevent what it describes as a “loss of charm, cultural significance, and historic value” associated with Bhalla’s Cadillac.
The outcome of this case may impact vintage car owners nationwide who value their cars’ legacy and want to retain their original registration numbers. As vintage vehicles continue to be a cherished part of automotive heritage, the court’s decision could set an essential precedent on how such vehicles are recognized and preserved under Indian law.
The Delhi High Court’s decision in February will determine if vintage car owners can retain their original registration numbers, ensuring that each vintage car’s legacy is honored and preserved for future generations.
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