Motor Vehicles Act • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide
(1) If a licensing authority is satisfied, after giving the holder of a driving licence an opportunity of being heard, that he
(a) is a habitual criminal or a habitual drunkard; or (b) is a habitual addict to any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance within the meaning of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985; or (c) is using or has used a motor vehicle in the commission of a cognizable offence; or (d) has by his previous conduct as driver of a motor vehicle shown that his driving is likely to be attended with danger to the public; or (e) has obtained any driving licence or a licence to drive a particular class or description of motor vehicle by fraud or misrepresentation; or (f) has committed any such act which is likely to cause nuisance or danger to the public, as may be prescribed by the Central Government, having regard to the objects of this Act; or (g) has failed to submit to, or has not passed, the tests referred to in the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 22; or (h) being a person under the age of eighteen years who has been granted a learners licence or a driving licence with the consent in writing of the person having the care of the holder of the licence and has ceased to be in such care, it may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, make an order (i) disqualifying that person for a specified period for holding or obtaining any driving licence to drive all or any classes or descriptions of vehicles specified in the licence; or (ii) revoke any such licence . [(1A) Where a licence has been forwarded to the licensing authority under sub-section (4) of section 206, the licensing authority, if satisfied after giving the holder of the driving licence an opportunity of being heard, may either discharge the holder of a driving licence or, it may for detailed reasons recorded in writing, make an order disqualifying such person from holding or obtaining any licence to drive all or any class or description of vehicles specified in the licence - (a) for a first offence, for a period of three months; (b) for a second or subsequent offence, with revocation of the driving licence of such person: Provided that where a driving licence is revoked under this section, the name of the holder of such driving licence may be placed in the public domain in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government.]
(2) Where an order under sub-section (1) [or sub-section (1A)] is made, the holder of a driving licence shall forthwith surrender his driving licence to the licensing authority making the order, if the driving licence has not already been surrendered, and the licensing authority shall,
(a) if the driving licence is a driving licence issued under this Act, keep it until the disqualification has expired or has been removed; or
(b) if it is not a driving licence issued under this Act, endorse the disqualification upon it and send it to the licensing authority by which it was issued; or
(c) in the case of revocation of any licence, endorse the revocation upon it and if it is not the authority which issued the same, intimate the fact of revocation to the authority which issued that licence : [Provided that the driving licence shall be returned to the holder at the end of the period of disqualification only if he successfully completes the driver refresher training course.] [(2A) The licence holder whose licence has been suspended shall undergo the driver refresher training course from a school or establishment licenced and regulated under section 12 or such other agency, as may be notified by the Central Government.
(2B) The nature, syllabus and duration of the driver refresher training course shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.]
(3) Any person aggrieved by an order made by a licensing authority under sub-section (1) [or sub-section (1A)] may, within thirty days of the receipt of the order, appeal to the prescribed authority, and such appellate authority shall give notice to the licensing authority and hear either party if so required by that party and may pass such order as it thinks fit and an order passed by any such appellate authority shall be final.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 19
Section 19 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 empowers licensing authorities to disqualify individuals from holding driving licences or revoke existing licences on specified statutory grounds of dangerous conduct, habitual offending, or physical incapacity.
The section incorporates mandatory procedural safeguards: the licensing authority cannot disqualify a driver or revoke a licence without giving the licensee a reasonable opportunity of being heard (audi alteram partem) and recording reasons in writing. Under sub-section (1A) inserted by the 2019 Amendment, mandatory revocation or suspension is prescribed for serious violations such as drunken driving, dangerous driving, or jumping red lights.
Section 19 operates as an administrative check against reckless road users independently of criminal court convictions. Following the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety guidelines, police officers and RTOs are mandated to impound licences and initiate Section 19 proceedings for immediate 3-month suspensions upon detection of mobile phone usage while driving, excessive speeding, or drunken driving.