LMV License Holder Can Drive Transport Vehicle Under 7500 KG Without Additional Endorsement Summary: The High Court of Uttarakhand dismissed the Insurance Company's appeal, affirming the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal's award. Relying on the Supreme Court's constitution bench ruling in *Bajaj Alliance General Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Rambha Devi (2025)*, the Court held that a driver holding a Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) license for vehicles with a gross weight not exceeding 7,500 kg is legally permitted to operate a "transport vehicle" without a specific additional authorization under Section 10(2)(e) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

The claimants (Respondent Nos. 1 and 2) filed a claim petition following a motor accident on October 21, 2022, where a truck (UK-07 CB-2424) hit a motorcycle, resulting in the death of Ravindra and injuries to Pooja

The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT), Tehri Garhwal, vide order dated December 12, 2024, held the truck driver negligent and awarded Rs. 18,47,860/- compensation to the claimants

The appellant Insurance Company challenged the award primarily on the ground that the driver lacked a specific "transport vehicle" endorsement on his driving license

1. Whether the accident occurred due to the rash and negligent driving of the truck driver.

2. Whether the truck driver held a valid and effective driving license at the time of the accident, specifically considering the lack of a transport vehicle endorsement for a Light Motor Vehicle (LMV).

The Court primarily applied Section 2(21) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which defines "light motor vehicle" as a transport vehicle or omnibus with a gross weight not exceeding 7500 kg

The Court relied on the Constitution Bench precedent of the Supreme Court of India in Bajaj Alliance General Insurance Company Limited v. Rambha Devi and others (2025) 3 SCC 95, which established that a person holding an LMV license under Section 10(2)(d) is permitted to operate a "transport vehicle" of the same weight class without requiring a specific endorsement under Section 10(2)(e)

The Court noted that the appellant’s sole substantive ground for appeal was the absence of a "transport" endorsement on the driver’s license

the Court observed that under the statutory definition of Section 2(21), the truck in question fell within the LMV category as its weight did not exceed 7500 kg

Applying the ratio of Bajaj Alliance General Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Rambha Devi, the Court reasoned that for licensing purposes, LMVs and transport vehicles are not entirely separate classes and an overlap exists

Consequently, the driver’s existing LMV license was legally sufficient to operate the transport vehicle in question, rendering the Insurance Company’s objection regarding the invalidity of the license unsustainable in law

The High Court found no reason to interfere with the Tribunal’s judgment and dismissed the appeal

The compensation awarded by the MACT was upheld