Restrictions on the holding of driving licences
Section 6 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with restrictions on the holding of driving licences. No person shall, while he holds any driving licence for the time being in force, hold any other driving licence except a learner’s licence or a driving licence issued in accordance with the provisions of section 18 or a document authorising, in accordance with the rules made under section 139, the p The Act came into force on 01 Jul 1989.
(1) No person shall, while he holds any driving licence for the time being in force, hold any other driving licence except a learner’s licence or a driving licence issued in accordance with the provisions of section 18 or a document authorising, in accordance with the rules made under section 139, the person specified therein to drive a motor vehicle.
(2) No holder of a driving licence or a learner’s licence shall permit it to be used by any other person.
(3) Nothing in this section shall prevent a licensing authority having the jurisdiction referred to in sub-section (1) of section 9 from adding to the classes of vehicles which the driving licence authorises the holder to drive.
Section 6, The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (Act 59 of 1988).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Chairman, R. S. R. T. C. vs Santosh
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
A vehicle is a motor vehicle under Section 2(28) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 if it is mechanically propelled and adapted for use upon roads, regardless of its primary purpose or actual use. The test is the vehicle's suitability for road use and mechanical propulsion, not whether it is primarily used for agriculture or other purposes. Accordingly, Jugaads are motor vehicles subject to all provisions of the Act including registration, insurance, and driver licensing requirements, unless specifically exempted by state notification for vehicles exclusively used for agricultural purposes with appropriate specifications. This classification is enforceable through statutory authority actions, and the Supreme Court may issue directions to ensure compliance with existing law to address public safety concerns and legislative gaps.
On this section: Restrictions on holding of driving license; applicable to Jugaad drivers
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National Insurance Co. Ltd. vs Shri. Ammeruddin Ismail Dukandar
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Possession of a valid driving licence is a fundamental prerequisite and the essential link for the development of the jural relationship between the claimant and the insurance company in motor accident compensation claims. When an application is filed seeking direction to produce a driving licence, the court must issue a proper order directing production, and the Tribunal must verify compliance before awarding compensation. Failure to do so constitutes a prima facie error requiring remand for fresh consideration.
On this section: Cited in relation to the requirement for valid driving licence for operating a motor vehicle
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument states that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
Another 1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 6
What have the courts held on Section 6 of the Motor Vehicles Act?
Chairman, R. S. R. T. C. vs Santosh (10 May 2013) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Restrictions on holding of driving license; applicable to Jugaad drivers. Another 1 judgment on this section is set out below, 1 of them from the Supreme Court.
How do I find court cases under Section 6 of the Motor Vehicles Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: MV Act 6, section 6 MV Act, section 6 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 2 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Chairman, R. S. R. T. C. vs Santosh (10 May 2013).
What should I read with Section 6 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 9 (Grant of driving licence), section 18 (Driving Licences to drive motor vehicles, belonging to the Central Government), section 139 (Power of Central Government to make rules), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there is one: most recently SO 3110(E) dated 28.08.2019 enforcement of sections of motor vehicle (2019).
When did Section 6 of the Motor Vehicles Act come into force?
Section 6 of the Motor Vehicles Act, cited as MV Act 6, came into force on 01 Jul 1989, having been enacted on 14 Oct 1988. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions1948 words
- 88. Validation of permits for use outside region in which granted1560 words
- 51. Special provisions regarding motor vehicle subject to hire-purchase agreement, etc1199 words
- 150. Duty of insurers to satisfy judgments and awards against persons insured in respect of third party risks1102 words
- 96. Power of State Government to make rules for the purposes of this Chapter995 words
- 72. Grant of stage carriage permits868 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.