Getting a learner's driving licence just got easier in Punjab with the government authorising principals of colleges and other educational institutions to issue these to students after testing their knowledge of 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.
"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.