A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Friday ordered that all vehicles seized by the police on the charge of violating lockdown guidelines be released to its owners subject to certain conditions.
The Bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan and T.R. Ravi directed that the vehicles could be released to the owners on them executing a personal bond and depositing cash security ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000. They should also furnish copies of the licence, RC book, and insurance certificate before the station house officer concerned. The owners should also furnish an undertaking that the vehicle would be produced as and when required.
The court made it clear that the order would not be applicable to repeat offenders. The court passed the directive in a suo motu case initiated by the court in the wake of the lockdown.
The vehicle owners had been slapped with offence under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (disobedience of government order).
