the goan I network
PANAJI
Directorate of Transport on Friday ordered all assistant directors of transport, licensing authorities and the Superintendent of Police (Traffic) to keep in abeyance all requests from RTO officers and traffic police for suspension of motor driving licenses citing the issue of “double jeopardy”.
Transport Director Nikhil Dessai has moved a file seeking legal opinion of the Advocate General of Goa on the issue of suspension of motor driving licenses following compounding of offences by traffic police or RTO officers.
“There have been concerns raised in various quarters about whether guidelines framed by Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety are binding on statutory authorities and whether such action of suspending license after compounding of the offence amounts to double jeopardy,” the Directorate has said.
Accordingly, Director Dessai has requested all licensing authorities to keep suspension of licenses in abeyance till a clear legal opinion is secured on the matter. He has also ordered them to indefinitely delay the dates of hearing for those whose licenses have been seized.
The licensing authorities who fail to abide by this order will be liable for strict disciplinary action, the order states.
