LMV licence holders can drive light transport Vehicles: SC

SC said driving licence holder of LMV can operate transport vehicles of 7,500 kg gross weight

- PARMOD KUMAR

In a significant judgment, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that a person holding a driving license for a light motor vehicle (LMV) is also entitled to drive a transport vehicle under an unladen weight of 7,500 kg without obtaining the additional authorization to drive the transport vehicles.

Stating that core skills expected of all drivers apply universally, regardless of whether the vehicle falls into transport or non-transport categories, a five-judge constitution bench comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice Hrishikesh Roy, Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha, Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Manoj Misra said, "The licensing regime under the MV Act and the MV Rules, when read as a whole, does not provide for a separate endorsement for operating a 'Transport Vehicle', if a driver already holds a LMV license."

While permitting the driving licence holder of LMV to operate transport vehicle of gross weight of 7500 kg, the constitution bench, however, "We must however clarify that the exceptions carved out by the legislature for special vehicles like e-carts and e-rickshaws, or vehicles carrying hazardous goods, will remain unaffected by the decision of this Court."