Kerala High Court Closes PIL Seeking Printing & Dispatching Of Registration Certificates, Driving Licenses Upon Being Told Process Had Resumed

“Today when the matter is called out, the learned Senior Government Pleader made available a communication dated 06.04.2024 issued by the Transport Commissioner, Motor Vehicles Department, by which it has been clarified that the printing work has resumed from 01.04.2024 and Registration Certificates as well as Driving Licences, which are printed, are being dispatched on the same day. The said communication is taken on record”, stated Chief Justice A J Desai and Justice V G Arun

The petitioner, N Prakash, had filed the public interest litigation alleging that the authorities under the Motor Vehicles Department were not providing hard copies of Registration Certificates and Driving Licences to applicants despite collecting printing and despatching charges. Further, it was alleged that authorities insist applicants download soft copies of Registration Certificates and Driving Licences from DigiLocker and mParivahan mobile apps instead of providing hard copies. 

The petitioner was compelled to approach the Court since the hard copies were not getting printed and despatched since the state government had to pay arrears to the printing firm and postal department. The petitioner claimed that applicants have a right to receive hard copies of Registration Certificates and Driving Licences when those were sanctioned by the authorities and requisite amounts were paid.

The Court noted that the Transport Commissioner has apprised the Court that printing of Registration Certificates and Driving Licences was resumed from April 01, 2024, and they were also being despatched on the same day to the applicants.

Accordingly, the Court closed the petition.

Appearance: Senior Government Pleader K P Harish

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Ker) 236

Case title: N Prakash v State of Kerala

Case number: WP(C) NO. 5614 OF 2024

Click Here To Read/Download The Judgment