Shift to Automated Testing Stations for vehicle fitness from April 15: Raj HC

Jaipur/Jodhpur: The Rajasthan High Court has held that issuance of fitness certificates for transport vehicles in the state must strictly comply with Rule 62(1)(b) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, and that from April 15, 2026, no certificate of fitness shall be issued except through Automated Testing Stations (ATS).

A Division Bench comprising Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Sandeep Shah ruled that the statutory transition to automated testing is mandatory and cannot be diluted by administrative extensions or interim arrangements once the notified deadline takes effect.

The court clarified that while holders of valid Letters of Authority (LoA) under the FIJA-2018 Scheme may continue to operate fitness testing centres temporarily, no fresh extensions of such LoAs can be granted. Even if vehicle owners are required to travel to neighbouring districts for testing, the statutory mandate must prevail over convenience considerations.

The Bench further affirmed that Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) and District Transport Offices (DTOs) lacking ATS-compliant infrastructure are legally barred from issuing fitness certificates, as any such issuance would be contrary to the amended rules and undermine road safety objectives.

These legal principles were laid down while disposing of a batch of special appeals filed by the State of Rajasthan challenging a Single Bench order dated September 25, 2025, which had permitted limited continuation of private fitness centres during the transition phase to ATS.

The controversy arose following the amendment to Rule 62(1)(b) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, which mandates that renewal of fitness certificates for transport vehicles be conducted exclusively through Automated Testing Stations. Pursuant to the amendment, the Rajasthan government issued guidelines and an office order dated July 2, 2025, inviting applications for establishment of ATS across the state.

During the hearing, the State informed the court that 168 applications had been received for establishing ATS, of which 38 Preliminary Registration Certificates had already been issued, 84 applications were rejected for non-compliance, and 46 were pending consideration. The State submitted that deficiencies in pending applications were curable and that all eligible applicants would be processed expeditiously.

Private fitness centre operators, on the other hand, alleged that the State was acting arbitrarily by extending LoAs under the FIJA-2018 Scheme beyond their validity period, thereby frustrating the object of the amended statutory framework.

Balancing the competing interests, the High Court upheld the Single Bench directions with clarifications. It ordered that applications for ATS establishment received prior to July 31, 2025, be decided by January 31, 2026, and that all remaining applications be processed within fixed timelines. The court also affirmed the requirement of a security deposit of Rs.20,00,000 for ATS operators.

Crucially, the Bench directed that the ATS regime shall be made fully operational and mandatory across Rajasthan with effect from April 15, 2026, after which no fitness certificate shall be issued except through an Automated Testing Station, regardless of geographical availability.

All appeals and connected applications were accordingly disposed of.

Case Title
State of Rajasthan & Others vs Rajasthan Vehicle Fitness Center Nokha & Others
(Connected matters including D.B. Spl. Appl. Writ Nos. 1453/2025, 1539/2025, 1551/2025, 1557/2025, 1562/2025 and others)
D.B. Spl. Appl. Writ No. 1560/2025
High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan at Jodhpur

Advocates
For the appellants (State): Mr. Deepak Chandak for Mr. B.L. Bhati, Additional Advocate General
For the respondents: Mr. Hapu Ram Vishnoi