Follow-up to IND35365.E of 30 August 2000 on procedures to obtain and renew a driver's licence in Punjab; required documents; police verifications; person who can pick up the driver's licence or renew it with the licence issuing authority [IND35798.E]

According to the State Transport Commissioner of Punjab, there is no police verification for obtaining or renewing a driver's licence in Punjab (27 Sept. 2000). An applicant has to appear in person in order to pick up a driver's licence or renew it with the licence issuing authority (ibid.).

On 27 September 2000, the State Transport Commissioner of Punjab provided the following information on the procedures to obtain and renew a driver's licence in Punjab:

Learner's Licence

10. Application for learner's licence
An application for the grant or renewal of a learner's licence shall be made in Form 2 and shall be accompanied by-
(a) Save as otherwise provided in rule 6, a medical certificate in Form 1A.
(b) three copies of the applicant's recent [passport size photograph].
(c) appropriate fee as specified in rule 32.
(d) in the case of an application for medium goods vehicle, a medium passenger motor vehicle, a heavy goods vehicle, or a heavy passenger motor vehicle, the driving licence held by the applicant.
11. Preliminary test
(1) Save as otherwise provided in sub-rule (2), every applicant for a learner's licence shall present himself before the licensing authority on such date, place and time, as the licensing authority may appoint, for a test and satisfy such authority that the applicant possesses adequate knowledge and understanding of the following matters, namely,-
(a) the traffic signs, traffic signals and the rules of the road regulations made under section 118;
(b) the duties of a driver when his vehicle is involved in an accident resulting in the death or bodily injury to a person er damage to property of a third party;
(c) the precautions to be taken while passing an unmanned railway crossing; and
(d) the documents he should carry with him while driving a motor vehicle
(lA) In determining as to whether an applicant possesses adaquate knowledge and understanding of the matters referred to in sub-rule (1),the licensing authority shall put to the applicant questions of objective type such as specified in Annexe VI.
Explanation : For the purposes of this sub-rule, "adequate knowledge" means answering correctly at least 60 per cent of the questions put to him.
(2) Nothing contained in sub-rule (1) shall apply to the following class of applicants. namely,-
(a) the holder of an effective driving licence,
(b) the holder of a driving licence which has expired but five years have not elapsed,
(c) the holder of a learner's licence issued or renewed after the commencement of these rules
12. Consent of parent or guardian in the case of application by minor
In the case of an application for a learner's licence to drive a motorcycle without gear by an applicant under the proviso to sub-section (I) of section 4, the application shall be signed by the parent or guardian of the applicant
13. Form of learner's licence
Every learner's licence issued by the licensing authority shall be in

Form 3.

Driving Licence

14. Application for a driving licence An application for a driving licence shall be made in Form 4 and shall be accompanied by-
(a) an effective learner's licence to drive the vehicle of the type to which the application relates;
(b) appropriate fee as specified in rule 32, for the test of competence of driver and issue of licence;
(c) three copies of the applicant's recent [passport size photograph];
(d) save as otherwise provided in rule 6, a medical certificate in [Form 1A0];
(e) a driving certificate in Form 5 issued by the school or establishment from where the applicant received instruction, if any.
15. Driving test
(1) No person shall appear for the test of competence to drive unless he has held a learner's licence for a period of at least [thirty days]
(2) The test of competence to drive referred to in sub-section (3) of section 9 shall be conducted by the licensing authority or such other person as may be authorised in his behalf by the State Government in a vehicle of the type to which the application relates.
(3) The applicant shall satisfy the person conducting the test that he is able to-
(a) adjust the rear-view mirror;
(b) take suitable precautions before starting the engine;
(c) move away safely and smoothly straight ahead at an angle,while at the same time engaging all gears until the top gear is reached;
(d) to change to the lower gears quickly from the top gear when the traffic conditions warrant such change;
(e) change quickly to lower gears when driving downhill;
(f) stop and re-start the vehicle on a steep upward incline making proper use of the hand-brake or of the throttle and the foot-brake without any rolling back, turn right and left corners correctly and make proper use of the rear-view mirror before signalling;
(g) overtake, allow to be overtaken, meet or cover the path of other vehicles safely and take an appropriate course of the road with proper caution giving appropriate signals;
(h) give appropriate traffic signals at the appropriate time, in clear and unmistakable manner by hand or by electrical indicators fitted to the vehicle;
(i) change lanes with proper signals and with due care;
(j) stop the vehicle in an emergency or otherwise, and in the latter case, bring it to rest at an appropriate course on the road safely, giving appropriate signals;
(k) in the case of vehicle having a reverse gear, driving the vehicle backwards, reverse it into a limited opening either to the right or left under control and with ressonable accuracy;
(l) cause the vehicle to face in the opposite direction by means of forward and reverse gears;
(m) take correct and prompt action on the signals given by traffic signs, traffic lights, traffic controllers, policemen and take appropriate action on signs given by other road users;
(n) act correctly at pedestrian crossings, which are not regulated by traffic lights or traffic Police, by giving preference to persons crossing the roads;
(o) keep well to the left in normal driving;
(p) regulate speed to suit varying road and traffic conditions;
(q) demonstrate general control of the vehicle by confident steering and smooth gear changing and braking as and when necessary;
(r) make proper use of the rear-view minor before signalling, beginning manouevring, moving away, altering the course to overtake, turning right or stopping;
(s) use the proper side when driving straight, turning right, turning left and at junction of the road;
(t) make proper use of accelerator, clutch, gears, brakes (hand and foot) steering and horn;
(u) anticipate the actions of pedestrians, drivers of other vehicles and cyclists;
(v) take precautions at cross roads and on road junctions with regard to
(i) adjustment of speed on approach,
(ii) proper use of rear-view mirror,
(iii) correct positioning of the vehicle before and after turning to the right or left,
(iv) avoidance of cutting right hand comers,
(v) looking right, left and right again before crossing or emerging,
(w) concentrate in driving without his attention being distracted and to demonstrate the presence of mind;
(x) show courtesy and consideration for the safety and convenience of other road users, such as pedestrians, drivers of other motor vehicles or cyclists.
16. Form of driving licence
(1) Every driving licence issued or renewed by a licensing authority shall be in Form 6
(2) Where the licensing authority has the necessary apparatus, for the issue of a laminated card type driving licence, such card type driving licence shall be in Form 7
(3) On and from the date of commencement of this sub-rule, every driving licence issued or renewed by the licensing authority shall be in Form 7.
17. Addition to driving licence
(1 ) An application for addition of another class or description of motor vehicle to the driving licence shall be made in Form 8 to the licensing authority and shall be accompanied by-
(a) an effective learner's licence and driving licence held by the applicant;
(b) in the case ot an application for addition of a transport vehicle, the driving certificate in Form 5;
(c)[***]
(d) appropriate fee as specified in rule 32.
(2) The provisions of sub-section (I), sub-section (3) and sub-section (4) of section 9 shall, in so far as may be, apply in relation to an application under sub-section (1) as they apply in relation to an application for the grant of a driving licence.
18. Renewal of driving licence
(1) An application for the renewal of a driving licence shall be made in Form 9 to the licensing authority having jurisdiction over the area in which the applicant ordinarily resides or carries on business and shall be accompanied by-
(a) appropriate fee as specified in rule 32;
(b) three copies of the applicant's recent [passport size photograph], if renewal is to be made in Form 6;
(c) the driving licence;
(d) the medical certificate in [Form IA].
(2) Where the driving licence authorises the holder of such licence to drive a transport vehicle as well as any other vehicle, then the licensing authority shall, subject to the production of medical certificate, renew such licence for the appropriate period as specified in sub-section (2) of section 14.

This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Reference


State Transport Commissioner, Chandighar, Punjab. 27 September 2000. Correspondence.