The Supreme Court has commented on the driving license during the hearing against a decision of the Division Bench of the Telangana High Court. The court said that driving a vehicle is not limited to mere paper qualification, but practical experience and regular practice is equally necessary for it.
The Court explained that lack of practice can seriously affect a person’s driving ability, especially when the vehicle is to be used for sensitive and responsible tasks like police operations or disaster relief. Actually, the Supreme Court has overturned the decision of Telangana High Court related to the recruitment of 325 driver posts in Telangana Police Transport Organization and State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department. The Supreme Court directed that the recruitment process should be completed within three months.
Important guidelines in matters related to driving eligibility
The Supreme Court said that driving is not just a formality of obtaining a license. Constant practice is necessary to drive the vehicle safely and efficiently in real conditions. The Court also underlined that driving skills and experience become all the more important for police forces and disaster management personnel, as a minor mistake in such situations can lead to serious consequences. This comment of the Supreme Court is being seen as an important guideline in matters related to police recruitment process and driving qualifications.
Matter related to recruitment of 325 driver posts
The Supreme Court has overturned the decision of the Telangana High Court related to the recruitment of 325 driver posts in Telangana Police Transport Organization and State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department. A division bench of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice SVN Bhatti gave this decision. This decision was given during the hearing on the appeal of Telangana State Level Police Recruitment Board (TSLPRB). In this appeal, the earlier order of the High Court was challenged, which was in favor of some candidates.
Recruitment Board issued two notifications
This controversy started with two notifications issued by the Recruitment Board on April 5 and May 20, 2022. In these notifications, specific educational qualifications were prescribed and the candidates were required to have a valid driving license which should be continuously active for at least two years. Based on these rules, a skill test was held on March 2 and 24, 2023, followed by a written examination on April 2, 2023. Candidates who did not hold a valid driving license for two consecutive years till the date of notification were not allowed to take the test, due to which they challenged the eligibility condition in the High Court.
Candidates allowed to participate in the recruitment process
Division Bench Judgment On October 3, 2023, a division bench of the Telangana High Court ruled that under Section 15 of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, applicants are allowed to renew their driving license either one year before or one year after expiry. The court said that such candidates should be allowed to participate in the recruitment process.
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