Motor Vehicles Act Section 21 — Suspension of driving licence in certain cases
CHAPTER II LICENSING OF DRIVERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Civil
Summary
Sub-section (1) deals with a person who has already been convicted once for dangerous driving under section 184. If a police officer then registers a case against that same person, alleging that they again drove dangerously and caused death or grievous hurt to one or more people, the person's driving licence becomes suspended for that class or description of vehicle. The suspension lasts for six months from the date the case is registered, or, if the person is discharged or acquitted before those six months are over, the suspension lasts only until that discharge or acquittal.
Under clause (a) of sub-section (1), the suspension is for a fixed period of six months starting from the date the case is registered. Under clause (b) of sub-section (1), if the person is discharged or acquitted before the six-month period ends, the suspension ends at the time of that discharge or acquittal instead of continuing for the full six months.
Sub-section (2) says that when the licence becomes suspended under sub-section (1), the police officer who registered the case must inform the court that is competent to take cognizance of the offence. The court then takes possession of the driving licence, notes the suspension on it, and tells the licensing authority that granted or last renewed the licence about this endorsement.
Sub-section (3) provides that if the person is acquitted or discharged, the court must cancel the endorsement on the driving licence regarding the suspension.
Sub-section (4) states that while a driving licence for a particular class or description of motor vehicle is suspended under sub-section (1), the person holding that licence is barred from holding or obtaining any licence to drive that same class or description of motor vehicle for as long as the suspension remains in force.
Official Text
(1) Where, in relation to a person who had been previously convicted of an offence punishable under section 184, a case is registered by a police officer on the allegation that such person has, by such dangerous driving as is referred to in the said section 184, of any class or description of motor vehicle caused the death of, or grievous hurt to, one or more persons, the driving licence held by such person shall in relation to such class or description of motor vehicle become suspended—
(a) for a period of six months from the date on which the case is registered, or
(b) if such person is discharged or acquitted before the expiry of the period aforesaid, until such discharge or acquittal, as the case may be.
(2) Where by virtue of the provisions of sub-section (1), the driving licence held by a person becomes suspended, the police officer, by whom the case referred to in sub-section (1) is registered, shall bring such suspension to the notice of the Court competent to take cognizance of such offence, and thereupon, such Court shall take possession of the driving licence, endorse the suspension thereon and intimate the fact of such endorsement to the licensing authority by which the licence was granted or last renewed.
(3) Where the person referred to in sub-section (1) is acquitted or discharged, the Court shall cancel the endorsement on such driving licence with regard to the suspension thereof.
(4) If a driving licence in relation to a particular class or description of motor vehicles is suspended under sub-section (1), the person holding such licence shall be debarred from holding or obtaining any licence to drive such particular class or description of motor vehicles so long as the suspension of the driving licence remains in force.