Effective immediately, all vehicle insurance renewals and claims will require a valid PUC
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) says insurers must take into account PUC certificate at the time of renewal of Insurance of Vehicle as per directions given by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in WP(C) No.13029 of 1985 in the matter of M.C. Mehta Vs. Union of India.
WP(C) No.13029 of 1985 in the matter of M.C. Mehta Vs. Union of India.
Supreme Court’s direction outlines that insurers mustn’t renew a motor policy until vehicle owner provides a valid PUC certificate. The directive is to be followed strictly with focus on compliance in National Capital Region of Delhi (Delhi – NCR). The development is in reference to the Authority’s Circular No. IRDA/NL/CIR/MISC/104/ 07/2018 dated 06th July, 2018 that advised general insurance companies to comply with the direction issued by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Writ Petition (Civil).
Central pollution control board (CPCB) raised concerns regarding compliancy of above direction in National Capital Region of Delhi (Delhi – NCR), and is to be followed scrupulously. For customers, this means your insurance company will need to view valid PUC or pollution under control certificates at the time of motor insurance policy renewal.
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The move in 2018 was in response to concerns about vehicular pollution. Focus on Delhi-NCR isn’t difficult to decipher considering the region continuously finds itself to be a regular mention whenever pollution matters are discussed.
IRDAI has written to all insurance companies in India – “Central pollution control board (CPCB) has raised concerns regarding status of compliance of above direction of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in National Capital Region of Delhi (Delhi – NCR). Please ensure that the direction of the Supreme Court of India is followed scrupulously with special focus on compliance in National Capital Region of Delhi (Delhi – NCR).”
PUC certificate
PUC certificate lists compliancy to emission norms, and needs to be updated at regular intervals. Renewals must be concluded prior to certificate expiration date or the offence is fined. A PUC certificate is required even at a routine stop and check if the officer so requests.
While such a fine may not serve as a deterrent to all, the risk of not being able to rebid a vehicle insurance policy is no small matter, and isn’t something folks will slide under the carpet. Pollution emission levels are fixed for all motor vehicle types. New cars/vehicles are not required to get a PUC certificate until a year after vehicle registration.
As PUC certificate isn’t issued if a vehicle isn’t emission compliant. For newer cars, timely service can nip the problem at the bud. Deferring regular vehicle servicing as a cost saving measure are woeful. Those with older cars may also see emission compliancy issues develop. This is aggravated when old vehicles are fitted with certain parts.
With PUC certificate now a requirement for policy renewal insurance, one can hope a number of secondary problems too will be addressed. As a pattern, PUC certificate renewal will now be a more mainstream concern because of its requirement to renew policies even if one isn’t particularly concerned about the effects of pollution.
Source: Bike - rushlane.com
