The Centre told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that a committee appointed by the government has submitted a draft report addressing the legal question of whether an individual holding a driving license for a light motor vehicle can legally drive a transport vehicle with an unladen weight not exceeding 7,500 kilograms.
Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, leading a five-judge Constitution bench, granted the Centre until April 15 to resolve the issue. The bench emphasised that if the matter remains unresolved, they will proceed to hear the pleas and deliver a verdict.
The CJI stated, “Actually, it is a part-heard matter. We have substantially heard it…. We will give you (the government) the time to resolve the matter. If it is not resolved, then we will hear the matter and lay down the law. Ultimately, if Parliament wants to intervene, then it can always do so…”
The bench provided a deadline till mid-February for the finalization of the report and instructed the government to supply copies of it to the litigating parties. The batch of pleas will now be scheduled for directions on April 16, with the hearing set to commence from April 23.
“The attorney general says a draft report of the committee appointed by the government has been received. He would request time to examine it. The proceedings shall now be listed for directions on April 16, and it is understood that in the event, if the issue is not resolved on that day by the Union of India, the proceedings shall be listed for concluding the rehearsal.”