Mumbai Traffic Police to Accept Digital Documents for Driving Licenses, Registration, and PUC

Mumbai - In a significant step towards digitisation and easing compliance for vehicle owners, the Mumbai Traffic Police has issued a directive instructing officers to accept digital copies of driving licenses, vehicle registration certificates, insurance, and Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates stored in DigiLocker or the mParivahan app. This decision comes in response to numerous complaints from citizens who were issued e-challans despite presenting valid digital versions of their documents.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has clarified that digital versions of these documents, accessible through DigiLocker and mParivahan, are legally equivalent to physical copies under Sections 4 and 5 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. These provisions provide legal recognition to electronic records and digital signatures, making them as valid as physical documents.

The new notification further emphasizes that once a document is digitally signed, it is considered legally equivalent to the original physical copy. This move aims to reduce inconvenience for vehicle owners, who will no longer be required to carry physical copies of their documents, as long as they are available in the approved digital format.

Traffic police officers have been instructed to verify digital documents through the apps and refrain from issuing fines or impounding vehicles unless other violations are detected. The directive is expected to be strictly followed across all traffic sections, ensuring a smooth transition to digital document acceptance.