Chandigarh:
In a first of its kind of decision in the country, the Punjab
government Thursday allowed principals of colleges and other
educational institutions to issue learner's license to students
after conducting mandatory test on traffic rules.
"The Punjab government today (Thursday) took a path-breaking
decision authorizing principals of all government colleges,
polytechnic colleges, industrial training institutes and medical
colleges by empowering them to issue learner license to the
students after conducting mandatory test about the knowledge of
traffic rules," an official spokesman said here Thursday.
"An amendment in Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, Rules 4, 10, 11 of
Central Motor Vehicle Act has been made in this regard," he added.
The move follows a recommendation by the Punjab Governance Reforms
Commission that suggested that to check the harassment of public
in the district transport offices, certain government agencies
should be empowered to issue learner licence.
"This amendment would give a major relief to college going youth,
who had to run from pillar to post to get a learner licence, to
drive two-wheelers or four-wheelers. Fearing harassment, most of
the youth opted to drive vehicles without licence, thereby getting
caught by traffic police and endangering the lives of others by
driving without licence," the spokesman said.
According to the notification, all principals have been authorised
to accept applications on required form along with three passport
size photographs, proof of residence as applicable in the rules,
proof of age, proof of citizenship and appropriate fee prescribed
under the Motor Vehicle Act.
While submitting applications for issuing learner licence, every
applicant would present himself before the principals of the
government institutions notified for a preliminary test and
principals would satisfy themselves regarding the knowledge of the
candidate about traffic rules, regulations and traffic symbols,
the spokesman said.
"After fulfilling all formalities, the principals would themselves
issue learner licence to the students and submit the original
records to the DTO office and fee charged to the concerned
treasury," he added.
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