The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Central Government to review, by January 17, the legal question of whether an individual possessing a driving license for a light motor vehicle is entitled to legally operate a transport vehicle of a specific weight.
Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, leading a five-judge constitutional bench, acknowledged that the amendment process would necessitate consultations with various stakeholders, which would take time.
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“We direct the Union to pursue the exercise with the utmost expedition. Since consultation with state governments is envisaged, we direct all state governments to comply with the timeline set by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
The proceedings shall now be listed on January 17, 2024, by which date we expect that the consultation will be concluded in its entirety, and a clear roadmap of further steps that the Union proposes to take should be placed before this court,” stated the bench, also comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy, P S Narasimha, Pankaj Mithal, and Manoj Misra.
At the outset, Attorney General R Venkataramani presented a note from the Centre, emphasizing that the Union Government was considering a broader perspective rather than piecemeal amendments to address the issue.
The top law officer urged the bench to adjourn the proceedings indefinitely. However, the apex court declined the request, affirming that the matter would be heard on January 17.
The court clarified that during the pendency of the matter, the judgment in the Mukund Dewangan case would remain in force.
Previously, the apex court had queried the Union government on whether a change in law was necessary regarding the legal question of whether a person with a driving licence for a light motor vehicle could legally operate a transport vehicle of a specific weight.