Aroor (Alappuzha): In a major move, Kerala has made digital versions of driving licences and vehicle registration certificates acceptable during vehicle inspections. The final order in this regard was issued by the Kerala State Transport Commissioner on Thursday.

Officials conducting inspections used to seek original copies of documents, even if digital versions were available on platforms like M-Parivahan or DigiLocker. This often resulted in disputes and confusion. The new order, however, recognises digital documents as equivalent to originals under the IT Act of 2000.

Major instructions

The directive clarifies that individuals will no longer be forced to present original documents. Instead, a digital copy containing a QR code, which can be downloaded from the Vahan portal, will be enough.

The order also mandates that any violations detected during inspections of digital documents must be followed by the issuance of an e-challan. Similarly, officials are instructed to record the confiscation of documents in such cases. The confiscation of original documents has now been strictly prohibited.