The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 has been amended with a new Section 199 (A), which covers ‘offences by juveniles’. In India, instances where minors driving are sadly still fairly commonplace, especially in rural areas. With this new amendment, the state government aims to curtail instances of minors riding/driving vehicles without an appropriate legal licence.
According to the latest amendment, the Court shall presume that the usage of the vehicle by the minor was done so with the full knowledge of the parent/guardian or the owner of the vehicle. Following this, the imprisonment sentence may extend up to 3 years along with a fine of up to Rs 25,000 for the guilty party. However, if the minor that has been caught possesses a learner’s permit (and is accompanied by an adult), this punishment will not apply.
The minor that has been caught driving will also face serious repercussions in the form of a custodial sentence in a Juvenile Detention Centre as per the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000. Additionally, the minor will not be able to apply for a licence until they are 25 years old. The vehicle in question will have its registration cancelled for a year as well.
Hormazd Sorabjee
Anurag Chaturvedi
