- No person shall, while he holds any driving license for the time being in force, hold any other driving license except a learner’s license or a driving license issued in accordance with the provisions of section 18 or a document authorising, in accordance with the rules made under section 139, the person specified therein to drive a motor vehicle.
- No holder of a driving license or a learner’s license shall permit it to be used by any other person.
- Nothing in this section shall prevent a licensing authority having the jurisdiction referred to in sub-section (1) of section 9 from adding to the classes of vehicles which the driving license authorises the holder to drive.
Simplified Explanation
Section 6 of the Motor Vehicles Act outlines the restrictions on the holding of driving licenses. This section places certain limitations on individuals regarding the types of driving licenses they can hold simultaneously. Here’s a detailed explanation:
Key Points of Section 6:
- Single Driving License for Each Class of Vehicle:
- A person is not allowed to hold more than one driving license for the same class of vehicle. This means that an individual cannot possess multiple licenses for, say, two-wheelers or cars issued from different states or authorities.
- For example, if someone holds a driving license for motorcycles in one state, they cannot apply for another motorcycle license in a different state.
- Restrictions Based on License Type:
- A person cannot hold both a commercial/transport vehicle license and a private vehicle license if the regulations do not permit it. Some licenses are issued specifically for driving private vehicles, while others are for commercial use (e.g., buses, trucks, taxis).
- Transport licenses, which allow individuals to drive commercial vehicles, often have additional requirements and restrictions, such as medical fitness tests and more stringent renewal processes. If someone holds a transport license, there may be additional rules preventing them from simultaneously holding other types of licenses in certain cases.
- Prohibition on Duplicate Licenses:
- The Act ensures that individuals cannot acquire duplicate licenses for the same category of vehicles from different licensing authorities. This helps avoid misuse and confusion and ensures that a person’s driving history and violations (if any) are tied to a single record.
- For instance, if someone’s license is suspended due to a traffic violation, they should not be able to evade the suspension by obtaining a new license from another state or authority.
- Penalties for Violating Section 6:
- If someone is found holding more than one driving license for the same class of vehicle, they may face legal penalties, including fines or other punitive measures. The law seeks to maintain clarity in the records and avoid any fraudulent activity related to licensing.
Purpose of Section 6:
- Uniform Record Keeping: The restriction on multiple licenses ensures that an individual’s driving history, including violations, suspensions, and disqualifications, is properly maintained under a single license. This prevents people from bypassing legal issues by acquiring duplicate licenses.
- Road Safety: By ensuring that only one license is issued per individual for each vehicle class, the government can better monitor drivers, particularly those who may be unfit to drive due to legal violations or medical conditions.
- Preventing Misuse: This section prevents the potential for misuse, such as someone trying to avoid penalties or suspensions by acquiring a second or duplicate license from a different jurisdiction.
Conclusion:
Section 6 of the Motor Vehicles Act enforces that individuals can hold only one driving license for each class of vehicle and prevents them from holding multiple licenses from different authorities. This helps maintain accurate records, prevent fraud, and ensures that any legal or safety concerns related to driving are properly addressed under a single license record.
