Key Points
- The Supreme Court’s ruling allows LMV license holders to drive transport vehicles up to 7,500 kg.
- Insurance companies had been refusing claims for accidents involving such drivers.
- The Court found no evidence linking LMV license holders to more accidents when driving commercial vehicles.
- The Centre has been urged to speed up changes to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
- The decision came after a lot of discussions and disagreements over insurance claims in similar cases.
Looma News
The Supreme Court has decided that people with a light motor vehicle (LMV) license can now legally drive transport vehicles that weigh up to 7,500 kg. This decision, made by a five-judge bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, brings relief to many commercial vehicle drivers. The Court also found no evidence to support claims that LMV license holders are more likely to cause accidents when driving these vehicles.
The ruling also took aim at insurance companies that were rejecting claims for accidents involving commercial vehicles driven by LMV license holders. Insurance companies had been refusing these claims, arguing that the drivers weren’t legally allowed to drive such vehicles, based on certain legal details. However, the Court noted that these claims were often accepted by Motor Accident Claims Tribunals (MACTs) and courts in favor of the insured individuals.
Justice Hrishikesh Roy, who wrote the unanimous verdict, pointed out that complaints from LMV license holders, who often spend a lot of time on the road, should not be dismissed just because of technicalities. The Centre, which has been discussing changes to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, has been asked to move quickly and finish the process. The case had been under review since August 21, 2024, when the bench reserved its judgment after hearing from Attorney General R Venkataramani about the pending amendments.
