GOR PROPOSAL TO ISSUE E- DRIVING LICENSES & VEHICLE REGISTRATION BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IN CONTRAVENTION WITH THE CMVR

Jaipur, 20^th March 2024 – Dr. Kamal Soi, a distinguished International Road Safety Expert and Member of the National Road Safety Council under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, brings to light a concerning issue plaguing the state of Rajasthan. The Transport Department’s issuance of digital-only Driving Licenses and Vehicle Registration Certificates from April 01, 2024 blatantly violates established laws and guidelines, posing a serious threat to road safety and legal compliance.

Dr. Soi, with an extensive background in Transportation Management, Road Safety, and Infrastructure Management, is deeply committed to advocating for effective policies and their implementation to ensure the safety and well-being of the public.

Despite clear directives from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) mandating the issuance of Driving Licenses and Registration Certificates in physical form (laminated card or smart card), the Rajasthan Transport Department persists in issuing digital-only documents, disregarding legal mandates and guidelines and has Notification on February 08, 2024 that from April 01, 2024, the Driving Licenses and Vehicle Registration Certificates shall be issued in Digital form only.

Citing MoRTH’s explicit advisories, Dr. Soi emphasizes the legal requirement for Driving Licenses and Registration Certificates to be issued in physical form, as outlined in the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989. MoRTH’s recent clarifications, dated 18th July 2023 and 9th February 2024, underscore the imperative for compliance with these rules, reiterating the necessity for laminated card-type documents.

Dr. Soi’s relentless efforts to address this issue include representations made to the Rajasthan Transport Department on April 14, 2023, May 04, 2023 and November 04, 2023 seeking adherence to legal mandates and MoRTH guidelines. However, the Department persists in its digital-only issuance, in defiance of established norms and has issued its Notification No. S.O. 541 dated February 08, 2024, office order Ref: P7(566)Pari/Niyam/Mu./eRC-eDL/2024/3743 dated 05.03.2024 and communication dated 07.03.2024 to NICSI, terminating its Memorandum of Understanding with NICSI from 31.03.2024 to issue DL & RC in electronic form only.

Further it has come to my understanding that the Transport Department of Rajasthan wishes to follow the E-Mitra Kendra route for printing of DL/RCs in the State rather than carrying on implementing the same through the NICSI. I would like to bring to your notice that MoRTH, by its direction letter dated 19th May, 2017, stated that that the Application/ App/ Portal using the web-service must be audited by a security auditor approved by CERT-IN/ STQC and report be sent to MoRTH. MoRTH further directed that such auditing be done every year. MoRTH further stated that the web-service will be enabled by MoRTH on receipt of the audit certificate, along with the undertaking from the competent authority regarding compliance of the above points on official letter-head.

It is most respectfully submitted that it is well-nigh impossible for EACH E-Mitra Kendra to ensure compliance of the aforesaid directions of MoRTH for EACH E-Mitra Kendra to get this audit certification to access the web services. Furthermore, even if it is presumed, although not possible, that EACH E-Mitra Kendra gets the audit certification, even then it is NOT POSSIBLE for each E-Mitra Kendra to further ensure that that no third party shall have access to the web service through application/app and ensure security of the DLRC data.

It is most respectfully submitted that Rajasthan being a border state with Pakistan and highly volatile to terrorist and disruptive activities is highly sensitive State. The State Government, therefore, should consider the issue in all seriousness and sensitively it deserves and should strictly ensure that no such DL/RC data is leaked and available in public domain. It is submitted that if the Government decides to allow printing of DL/RCs through E-Mitra Kendras as seems to have been decided by the Transport Department, there is no way that it can ensure that the data shall not be leaked/pilferaged  or available in public domain which can be used for terrorist and disruptive activities.

In the light of aforesaid, the Rajasthan Transport Department is strictly advised and requested to not follow the E-Mitra Kendra route for allowing printing of DL/RCs in the State and rather the same be implemented through the NICSI, as was being done in the past, which is an agency with extensive and vast experience of carrying out statewide implementation of DLRCs across states and who already has industry expert impaneled vendors to implement the same.

I, therefore, request Raj Transport Department to consider continuing with NICSI thus adhering to the procurement guidelines laid down by the Government of India. NICSI is currently already providing the services in, Rajasthan. In the light of this the Rajasthan Transport Department is advised not to follow the E-Mitra Kendra Route rather get the work implemented thru the NICSI who offers for undertaking services for the issuance of Smart Card Based Driving License and Vehicle Registration Certificate in your state with extensive experience in such state wide implementation and has already empaneled vendors who are industry experts to do implement the same

In light of these developments, Dr. Soi urges the media, as the fourth pillar of democracy, to highlight this critical issue and engage with the Rajasthan Transport Department to ensure immediate corrective action. Specifically, Dr. Soi calls for:

(a) Issuance of Driving Licenses and Vehicle Registration Certificates in physical form (Card, with or without chip) to uphold compliance with Central Motor Rules and MoRTH guidelines.

(b) Optional issuance of digital documents alongside physical ones for safekeeping in platforms like DigiLocker, in alignment with modern practices.

Dr. Soi’s unwavering dedication to road safety underscores the urgency of addressing this illegal practice, safeguarding both lives and legal integrity on the roads of Rajasthan.

For further inquiries or interviews, please contact Dr. Kamal Soi