News

Volume 6 Issue 8 - October 01, 2009

Right to drive for hearing impaired people - Delhi High court to decide soon

D.N.I.S. News Network, India: In response to a P.I.L. file by National Association of the Deaf (N.A.D.) seeking the right to drive for people with hearing impairment, the Delhi High Court on September 18, has asked the Centre to make adequate recommendations for issuing driving license to deaf people within four weeks.

A bench of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Manmohan recorded the statement of Additional Solicitor General A.S. Chandiok who appeared for the Centre. Chandiok said that the government is considering all relevant material on the issue and will make appropriate recommendations on issuing driving licenses to hearing impaired people.

The Motor Vehicles Act prohibits people with hearing impairment from driving on the ground that they could be a ‘source of danger to the public’. The P.I.L. mentioned that even Delhi Police disagrees with this. Its website says that there is no reason why deaf people should not be allowed to drive with the use of additional rear view mirrors. What is interesting is that a deaf person with an international driver’s license can drive in India.