Kochi: In a significant decision, the Kerala High Court has quashed the driving test reforms introduced by the State Transport Commissioner. The court’s ruling was in response to a petition filed by driving schools, which contended that the reforms were arbitrary and beyond the state’s jurisdiction.
The reforms, introduced earlier this year, included vehicle bans during driving tests and restrictions on the number of students in a batch for learning purposes. These changes have been criticized as causing financial losses for driving schools due to limited operations.
In its ruling, the Kerala High Court stated that the reforms were not based on any clear legal authority and were impractical given the current infrastructure and resources available at the State Transport Department. The court also noted that such unilateral decisions could potentially disrupt the entire system of driving education and testing in Kerala.
This decision is likely to be seen as a relief for driving schools, which have been struggling under the constraints imposed by these reforms. However, it remains to be seen how the State Transport Department will respond to this ruling. Meanwhile, Mathrubhumi reports that the department has not yet issued a statement on the matter.
This is a developing story and more updates are expected as more information becomes available.
