Supreme Court Sets April Deadline for Consultation on Motor Vehicles Act Amendment
In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has directed the Centre to complete the consultation process with states and Union territories by April regarding the potential amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act. The matter at hand revolves around the question of whether a light motor vehicle (LMV) license holder should be legally permitted to drive a transport vehicle with an unladen weight of up to 7,500 kg. A five-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, has scheduled a hearing for April 23, underscoring the importance of resolving the issue. If the Centre fails to provide a resolution by then, the court will resume hearings on petitions filed by insurance companies seeking a reversal of a 2017 judgment allowing LMV license holders to operate transport vehicles.
The Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, has granted the Centre an extension until April to conclude the consultation process with stakeholders on potential amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act. The court’s decision follows a submission by the Centre, emphasizing that the consultation process is still ongoing and requires more time. The matter had been previously directed to be expedited on November 22, with the court instructing the Centre to engage with all necessary stakeholders, including states and Union territories. The court has conveyed that if a decision is not reached by April, the proceedings will resume on April 23, with a strong directive for a final decision on the amendments and submission of the same to the court and involved parties one week before the hearing.
A batch of 75 petitions filed by insurance companies challenging the 2017 verdict of the Supreme Court has prompted the recent intervention of the judiciary. The 2017 judgment had ended the practice of distinct regulations for private and commercial vehicle licenses, allowing any person with a license for a private car or autorickshaw to also operate cabs, taxis, or other buses, provided the vehicle’s unladen weight was below 7,500 kg. The insurance companies argue that this decision poses serious road safety concerns, permitting drivers with minimal training to operate vehicles with substantial weights, such as road rollers or school buses. The court has emphasized the need for certainty in addressing these issues and awaits a conclusive decision from the Centre by April.
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