The Punjab and Haryana High Court has delivered a strong reprimand to top Punjab officials, including DGP Gaurav Yadav, imposing a fresh penalty for repeatedly ignoring judicial directions aimed at curbing the menace of illegally modified vehicles in the state.
Justice Sudeepti Sharma, hearing a contempt plea filed by the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Mini Transport Welfare Association, noted a “consistent and deliberate disregard” of orders meant to enforce road-safety norms.
A penalty of ₹2 lakh has been ordered, to be recovered directly and equally from the salaries of DGP Yadav, Pradeep Kumar (IAS), Secretary, Transport Department, Manish Kumar (IAS), State Transport Commissioner, and Jitendra Jorwal (IAS), Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur.
This amount will go to the Punjab Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The court stressed that the punishment comes in addition to a previous ₹1 lakh fine, also imposed for non-compliance — one which the officers attempted to evade by filing what the court termed “baseless” recall applications.
Despite multiple opportunities, the officials failed to present a convincing action-taken report on removing illegally modified vehicles, particularly private and commercial transport vehicles altered in violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
The court has now ordered that the ₹2 lakh be deducted directly from their salaries, while also demanding proof of the earlier fine being deposited.
But beyond the legal rebuke lies a deeper concern — the rapidly growing and dangerous trend of vehicle modification, especially in Punjab.
From illegally altered SUVs and “tractor-to-luxury coach” conversions to the now-popular double-decker buses illegally fitted and run by private operators, modifications have evolved into a thriving business.
These altered vehicles often bypass safety standards, structural integrity checks, and passenger-capacity norms, making them potential moving hazards.
Several fatal road crashes in recent years have been linked to such unsafe modifications, where engines, chassis, suspension, and body frames are altered without approval.
Many families have lost loved ones traveling in flashy but unsafe, structurally compromised vehicles that fold like tin in accidents.
Despite this grim reality, enforcement gaps have allowed the trend to flourish, placing countless lives at risk on highways and rural roads alike.
The High Court’s order is not just a punitive measure — it is a wake-up call on road safety, accountability, and the urgent need to dismantle the parallel illegal modification industry.
The case will be heard again on November 27, and the spotlight remains firmly on whether authorities will finally act to protect citizens from preventable tragedies.
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