New Delhi, November 6: In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed that holders of a Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) license can legally operate transport vehicles within the LMV category without needing additional authorization.
The Constitution Bench, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, clarified that the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 does not mandate separate endorsements for LMV license holders to drive transport vehicles, except for medium/heavy goods and passenger vehicles exceeding a gross weight of 7,500 kg.
Special licensing conditions will remain for vehicles like e-carts, e-rickshaws, and those transporting hazardous materials, which require additional eligibility criteria. This ruling aligns with the 2017 Mukund Dewangan judgment, which had previously stated that LMV license holders need no separate transport license for commercial usage of LMVs, including cars and vans.
Despite challenges raised by insurance companies and subsequent amendments, the Court maintained the 2017 ruling, urging the Union government to assess the impact on the livelihoods of commercial drivers relying on LMV licenses.
