Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 passed by Rajya Sabha

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 has been passed by Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, according to news agency ANI. The Bill, tabled by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, was passed by Lok Sabha last week by a voice vote. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 seeks to amend the provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988.

Rajya Sabha passes the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019. pic.twitter.com/3jJnX9HOX5

— ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2019

The Bill aims to enforce stricter penalties for road traffic violations. In traffic violations by juveniles, the guardians or owner of the vehicle would be held responsible unless they prove the offense was committed without their knowledge or they tried to prevent it. The registration of the motor vehicle in question will be canceled. The juvenile will be tried under the Juvenile Justice Act. For deaths in hit-and-run cases, the government will provide a compensation of Rs 2 lakh or more to the victim's family. Currently, the amount is just Rs 25,000.

The same Bill had earlier been passed by the Lok Sabha in the April of 2017. However, it could not get clearance from the Rajya Sabha and lapsed with the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha.