SC permits LMV driving licence holders to drive transport vehicles with weight up to 7,500 kg
PTI, Nov 6, 2024, 12:25 PM IST
In a relief for commercial vehicle drivers, the Supreme Court on Wednesday held that a person holding a driving licence for a light motor vehicle (LMV) is also entitled to drive a transport vehicle with an unladen weight not exceeding 7,500 kg.
The judgement of a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud is a jolt to insurance companies which had been rejecting claims if accidents involved transport vehicles of a particular weight and if the drivers were not authorised to drive them as per legal stipulation.
“There is no empirical data that LMV driving licence holders are responsible for rise in road accidents in the country,” Justice Hrishikesh Roy, who wrote the unanimous verdict for the bench, said.
He said the LMV driving licence holders, who spent maximum time behind the wheels, are seeking an answer from the court and their grievances cannot be rejected on technical grounds.
Besides the CJI and Justice Roy, the bench also comprised Justices P S Narasimha, Pankaj Mithal and Manoj Misra.
The bench had reserved its verdict on August 21 on the vexatious legal issue after Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, had submitted that the consultations to amend the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act, 1988 are “almost complete”.
The top court asked the Centre to complete the exercise of amending the law at the earliest.
The legal question, which was answered by the bench, was whether a person holding a driving licence for a light motor vehicle (LMV) is also entitled to drive a transport vehicle with an unladen weight not exceeding 7,500 kg.
The issue has given rise to various disputes over payment of claims by insurance companies in accident cases involving transport vehicles being driven by those possessing licences to drive LMVs.
The insurance firms have been alleging that the motor accident claim tribunals (MACTs) and the courts have been passing orders asking them to pay insurance claims, disregarding their objections with regard to the LMV driving licence.
The courts have been adopting a pro-insured approach while deciding insurance claim disputes, the insurance firms had said.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Kerala govt announces financial relief to kin of temple fire, train accident victims
‘Heartiest congratulations my friend’: PM Modi to Donald Trump on historic election victory
UP journalist murder case: Two more held after encounter in Fatehpur
BJP, PM Modi ‘trying to destroy’ Constitutional values: Priyanka Gandhi
Original East India Company wound up but new breed of monopolists is in its place: Rahul
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Das says incoming data on GDP growth mixed but positives outweigh negatives
Ben Stokes missing from IPL’s list of 1,574 players ahead of mega auction
Kerala govt announces financial relief to kin of temple fire, train accident victims
Donald Trump tells Americans this moment will help country ‘heal’
‘Heartiest congratulations my friend’: PM Modi to Donald Trump on historic election victory
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.