NEW DELHI, Nov. 6: In a landmark decision that will help drivers of commercial vehicles, the Supreme Court of India ruled that a driver with a Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) license can legally operate a transport vehicle as long as the vehicle weighs no more than 7,500 kg unladen. A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud rendered this decision, dealing a blow to insurance companies that had previously rejected claims in transport vehicle accidents on the grounds that drivers lacked the necessary authorization for larger vehicles.
There is no concrete evidence that drivers with LMV licenses are more likely to cause traffic accidents in India, according to Justice Hrishikesh Roy, who wrote the bench’s unanimous decision. He underlined that these drivers, who spend a lot of time behind the wheel, should not have their complaints dismissed on technical grounds and that they have a right to clarification from the court.
Back in August, the bench—which consisted of Justices P S Narasimha, Pankaj Mithal, and Manoj Misra—reserved its decision on this controversial legal matter. Attorney General R Venkataramani, speaking on behalf of the central government, told the court during the proceedings that the consultations to amend the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act, 1988, are almost finished. The court then urged the Center to expedite the amendment process in order to make the MV Act’s licensing requirements more clear.
The bench’s main concern was whether an LMV-licensed driver could lawfully operate a transport vehicle that weighed less than 7,500 kg. Ongoing disagreements have resulted from this issue, especially with regard to insurance claim settlements for collisions involving these kinds of cars. Insurance companies claimed that despite their objections regarding the limitations on LMV licenses, Motor Accident Claims Tribunals (MACTs) and other courts had ordered them to pay compensation.
Insurance firms also expressed concern that the courts frequently take a pro-insured stance in accident cases, favoring claimants over technical licensing requirements. Nonetheless, this decision aims to strike a balance between the interests of insurance companies and drivers, providing drivers with clarity and possibly streamlining the claims procedure in subsequent collisions.
The Supreme Court’s ruling represents a turning point in transportation law and could make commercial drivers’ license requirements simpler. It also represents a change to a more inclusive strategy that takes into account the real-world difficulties faced by drivers with LMV licenses.
