Parmit Singh Bhalla Fights to Keep Original Registration for Vintage Cadillac in Delhi Court
A vintage car owner, Parmit Singh Bhalla, has approached the Delhi High Court to retain the original registration number ‘DHB 0059’ for his vintage Cadillac. The car, manufactured by General Motors in 1965, has been registered since 1972. Bhalla, the sixth owner, is challenging the new registration number ‘DL VA 1317’ assigned to his car.
Background of the Case
In 2021, the Indian government introduced new rules for vintage vehicles, requiring them to be registered under the Central Motor Vehicles (Fifteenth Amendment) Rules, 2021. These rules allow for the retention of old registration numbers for vehicles over 50 years old, provided they are maintained in their original form.
The Petition
Bhalla’s petition, filed through Advocate Rhea Gandhi, argues that despite having all valid papers, the VAHAN portal did not offer an option to retain the old number. He claims the new number was assigned arbitrarily, violating the rules. The case is set for hearing before Justice Prateek Jalan.
Legal Arguments
The petition highlights confusion in implementing the new rules, with vintage vehicles being treated as fresh registrations. Bhalla seeks to have the new number set aside and retain ‘DHB 0059’.
Doubts Revealed
Vintage Cadillac -: A Cadillac is a brand of luxury cars from the United States. A vintage Cadillac means it is an old and classic model, which is considered special and valuable.
Registration number -: A registration number is a unique number given to a vehicle by the government. It helps identify the vehicle and shows it is legally allowed to be on the road.
Delhi High Court -: The Delhi High Court is a big and important court in India, located in New Delhi. It deals with important legal cases and decisions.
VAHAN portal -: The VAHAN portal is an online system in India used for vehicle registration and related services. It helps manage vehicle information and services digitally.
Advocate Rhea Gandhi -: An advocate is a lawyer who represents people in court. Rhea Gandhi is the lawyer helping Parmit Singh Bhalla with his case in court.
Justice Prateek Jalan -: Justice Prateek Jalan is a judge in the Delhi High Court. Judges are responsible for making decisions in legal cases.