The Transport Department of Jammu and Kashmir has issued an advisory to parents and guardians, urging them to prevent their minor or underage children from driving two-wheelers or four-wheelers.
This advisory, released by the Office of the Transport Commissioner, highlights the legal and safety risks associated with allowing minors to drive.
The advisory draws attention to Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which specifies strict penalties for parents or guardians of minors involved in driving offences. According to the Act, if an offence is committed by a juvenile, the guardian or vehicle owner will be held liable for the contravention unless they can prove that they exercised due diligence in preventing the offence.
The penalties for such offences are severe. Under Section 199A(2), guardians or owners may face imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of Rs. 25,000. Additionally, the registration of the vehicle involved in the offence could be cancelled for twelve months. If a minor is involved in such an offence, they will also be disqualified from obtaining a driving license until they reach the age of eighteen.
The advisory further states that if a juvenile commits an offence under the Act, they may face punishment through fines or other measures under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000.
Transport Commissioner Rajinder Singh Tara, who signed the advisory, highlighted that it is issued in the interest of public safety. He urged parents and guardians to exercise caution and responsibility to ensure minors are not allowed to operate vehicles, as this poses a significant risk to both the minors and the general public.
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