SC: LMV licence holders can drive transport vehicles

A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday held that those holding a Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) driving licence were eligible to drive transport vehicles weighing within 7,500kg without needing additional authorisation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

- Abraham Thomas

In a unanimous decision, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud-led bench said that no empirical data was brought before it to show that LMV license holders driving transport vehicles were a significant cause of road accidents. "Our present interpretation on how the licensing regime is to operate for drivers under the statutory scheme is unlikely to compromise the road safety concerns. This will also effectively address the livelihood issues for drivers operating transport vehicles (who clock maximum hours behind the wheels), in legally operating "transport vehicles" (below 7,500 kg), with their LMV driving license," the bench also consisting of justices Hrishikesh Roy, PS Narasimha, Pankaj Mithal and Manoj Misra said.