Kerala High Court mandates visual evidence of illegal vehicle modifications in accident reports

The Kerala High Court has directed the State Transport Commissioner to ensure that inspecting officers include photographs and videos of illegal vehicle modifications in accident reports uploaded to the e-DAR (electronic Detailed Accident Report) portal.

The court order, issued by a Division Bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S., specifically targets unauthorized alterations to engine power and manufacturer braking systems. These modifications are noted for increasing the risk of serious bodily injury during collisions.

The directive follows observations that some inspecting officers were bypassing the requirement to upload visual evidence, despite previous instructions issued by the Transport Commissioner in September 2026. The court also added the National Informatics Centre as a respondent to address technical issues within the portal.