Mandamus to Licensing Authority to Decisively Resolve Pending Driving License Renewal Applications Within Prescribed Timeline

The petitioner, a resident of Raipur, held a driving license for Light Motor Vehicles (LMV) and Motor Cycles with Gear (MCWG) valid until December 20, 2025

On November 21, 2025, prior to expiry, the petitioner applied for renewal and paid the requisite fees

Despite following up with requests on January 29, 2026, and February 18, 2026, the Licensing Authority (Respondent No. 2) failed to issue the renewed license or decide on the application

Facing potential legal complications and mental harassment, the petitioner filed this writ petition seeking a direction for the renewal of the license or a decision on his pending application

1. Whether the respondent authority is under a legal obligation to decide upon a timely submitted application for the renewal of a driving license within a reasonable period.

The court proceeded based on principles of administrative law and the statutory framework governing the Department of Transport and Licensing Authorities (impliedly the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and associated state rules) regarding the renewal of driving licenses

The core principle applied is that administrative authorities are duty-bound to consider and dispose of statutory applications/representations in an objective manner and within a reasonable timeframe, especially when compliance with prescribed formalities has been met by the applicant

The court noted that the petitioner had complied with the necessary formalities, including the timely filing of the renewal application (Annexure P-2) and payment of fees

It observed that the respondent authorities had kept the matter pending for several months without lawful justification

During the proceedings, the petitioner limited his prayer to seeking a time-bound direction for the disposal of his application, to which the respondents raised no objection

Consequently, the court found it unnecessary to adjudicate the merits of the renewal itself, focusing instead on the procedural failure of the authority to act on a pending representation

The court directed Respondent No. 2 (The Licensing Authority, Regional Transport Office, Raipur) to consider and decide the petitioner’s representation/application dated November 21, 2025, in accordance with the applicable laws, rules, and regulations. The decision must be made in an objective manner as expeditiously as possible, specifically within a period of 15 days from the date of receipt of the court’s order