New Delhi, Apr 20:  With lakhs of stolen and lost vehicles worth crores of rupees being reduced to junk at police stations, the Supreme Court has directed all states and union territories to ensure they are expeditiously returned to the owners and insurers.
 Non compliance of the orders would be dealt with an “iron hand”, a bench of Justices P Sathasivam and Deepak Verma said in a judgement while directing the respective IGs/City Police Commissioners and SPs to ensure implementation of its orders.
 The apex court passed the direction on a petition filed by General Insurance Council, an umbrella organisation of insurance companies, which alleged crass negligence of the authorites and courts in ensuring return of the stolen/lost vehicles resulting in their decay or turning into junk.
 Quoting a NCRB 2005 report, the council said that in the said year alone 84,675 vehicles were reported lost, out of which 24,918 vehicles were recovered by the police and only 4,676 vehicles were returned to the owners/insurers.
 As a result, assets worth several hundred crores of rupees were lost, it was stated.
 According to the council, though the apex court had in 2002 directed compliance of the CrpC provisions 451 and 457 which mandates expeditious disposal/return, there was no compliance of the direction.
 Agreeing with the council’s view, the apex court said even a well-maintained vehicle loses its road worthiness if it is kept idle in the police station for more than fifteen days.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST