NEW DELHI: From now on, car license holders will be able to drive transport vehicles weighing less than 7,500 kg including minibus and mini lorries. The Supreme Court said there is no need for a badge to drive heavy vehicles from now on.

There is an ongoing predicament where insurance companies deny compensation in case of accidents involving transport vehicles driven by ordinary Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) license holders. The five-member bench considered this before arriving at a decision and also approved the 2017 verdict of the three-member bench in the Mukund Dewangan case.

The new decision will be a big relief for truck-tractor, bus and taxi-cab drivers who drive transport vehicles below 7500 kg for commercial purposes. The court also said there is no need to classify LMV (light motor vehicle) and transport vehicles in connection with granting the license.

Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justices Hrishikesh Roy, PS Narasimha, Pankaj Mithal and Manoj Mishra took the unanimous stand. Justice Hrishikesh Roy delivered the verdict for the five-member bench.

According to insurance companies, driving transport vehicles below 7500 kg by those licensed to drive private cars, and autorickshaws poses a threat to road safety. However, the five-judge bench pointed out that there is no evidence before the court to prove that LMV license holders driving transport vehicles cause road accidents. Therefore, the court clarified that the insurance claim should not be denied based on such technical reasons.

A badge is required to drive medium goods-passenger vehicles above 7500 to 12500 kg and heavy transport-passenger vehicles above. There is no need to obtain a special license to drive e-rickshaws, e-carts and vehicles carrying dangerous goods.