Jharkhand Government Updates On Vehicles Registration under Bharat (BH) Series

The Jharkhand Government issued a notification regarding the implementation of the Central Motor Vehicles (20th Amendment) Rules, 2021, and the Central Motor Vehicles (23rd Amendment) Rules, 2022, aimed at facilitating the transfer of vehicles across India. This notification was issued on June 7, 2024.

A new BH series/ Bharat Series or BH Number Plate Registration Number has been introduced for registration of non-transport vehicles. This registration in the BH series is optional.

The BH Series number plate removes the obligation of transferring vehicle registration after moving from one state to the other. This facility for registration is available to private sector employees if the private companies/organizations is located in 4 or more states. It is also available to government offices.

Private sector applicants must submit Form 60, while government employees must provide an official identity card or service certificate. This Form 60 is called the Working Certificate signed by the Authorised Signatory of the Organisation.

The registration authority (District Transport Officer) will verify the Form 60 or Officer Identity Card before issuing the registration randomly.

Additionally, the notification also details the registration mark for vehicles under the BH series. This consists of a four-digit number followed by a two-letter code, excluding “I” and “O,” and the letters “BH.”

Principle of Motor Vehicle Tax under BH Series

At the time of registration of vehicle in BH series, road tax will be payable as per clause 5 of the Central Motor Vehicles (20th Amendment) Rules, 2021.

According to clause 5 of these rules provide stipulations on the principle for motor vehicle tax. In case of fully built non-transport vehicles, the motor vehicle tax shall be calculated electronically through the portal on the basis of invoice price excluding Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Additionally, the clause also states that the Motor Vehicle Tax levied by the States or Union Territories at the time of registration in respect of BH – Series non-transport vehicles shall be the following:

In case, where the vehicle bears BH-Series registration mark, the motor vehicle tax will be levied electronically through the portal for two years, or in multiples of two, as the case may be:

However, on and after 14th year from the date of first registration, the motor vehicle tax (Rounded to next integer) shall be levied annually which will be half of the tax as is depicted for two years.

Vehicle owners registered in the BH series in other states who transfer to Jharkhand must inform the registration officer of their residence within 30 days using Form-33. Such vehicle owner shall ensure payment of road tax of the vehicle as per clause 5 of the said amendment rule, 2021 as is in operation in Jharkhand.

If a vehicle owner, whose vehicle is registered in a regular series within a State or Union Territory, becomes eligible for a BH-series registration and chooses to switch to a BH-series registration, they must submit Form 27A to the registering authority of their current State or Union Territory. The Form 27A is an Application for assignment of new registration mark in BH-Series.

Transfer of Vehicles under BH-series

It is noteworthy that when a vehicle registered in BH-series is transferred in the name of such person who is eligible for BH-series, then such vehicle shall continue to be validly registered under BH series so long as transferee remains eligible for BH-series.

If at any time owner of the vehicle registered in BH-series, ceases to be eligible for BH series then such vehicle shall continue to be registered under BH series for the remaining period for which tax has been paid.

Furthermore, once the BH-series registration mark is assigned, the vehicle owner will be subject to the tax requirements outlined above.

Stakeholders are advised to contact the Department of Transport of the Government of Jharkhand for any further queries.