- [(1) If a certificate of fitness is lost or destroyed. the owner of the vehicle shall forthwith report the matter to the authority by whom the certificate was issued or last renewed and shall apply, in each such case, for a duplicate certificate in Form C.F.L.D. to these rules with a fee as specified in Schedule A.] [Sub-rule (1) Substituted vide clause (6) of the Notification No. 2668-WT/3M-151.196 dated 4.5.1998 (w.e.f. 4.5.1998).]
(2)
Upon receipt of intimation of the loss or destruction of a certificate of fitness, the authority shall furnish the owner with a duplicate copy of the same duly stamped "Duplicate " in red ink.
(3)
Where a duplicate certificate of fitness has been issued upon representation that the certificate of fitness has been lost and the original certificate of fitness is afterwards found or received by the holder he shall immediately return the duplicate certificate of fitness to the registering authority.
(4)
Any other person finding a certificate of fitness shall deliver it to the nearest police station or nearest registering authority. The Officer-in-charge of the police station on receipt of the certificate of fitness shall immediately forward it to the nearest registering authority. The registering authority shall restore the certificate of fitness to the holder of the certificate of fitness in case the duplicate certificate of fitness has not been issued and shall substitute it for the duplicate in case such a duplicate has already been issued.
(5)
No person shall be liable to be convicted of an offence under sub-section (1) of section 130 of the Act if, at the time when the certificate is demanded, he has already reported the loss or destruction thereof, in accordance with this rule and a duplicate certificate has not been delivered to him.