Mother’s Name Sufficient To Apply For Driving License From April

A new move will let citizens apply for a driving license with their mother’s name instead of their father’s name from April. Up until now, it was mandatory for the applicants to provide their father’s or husband’s name while applying for the driving license.

It is undoubtedly a progressive step by the Delhi government’s transport department since driving license also acts as an essential identity proof.

According to one of the senior transport department official, “This is a big step in bringing gender equality to the transport department, and we plan to bring in this change by April,” reported The Times of India.

This change can be used by anyone who does not wish to provide their father’s name for any reason or has a single parent. The Delhi government’s transport department is working to make the modifications to their software to adapt the change, and it will be ready to work in a week.

There are 13 regional transport offices (RTO) in Delhi, and approximately 1,600 permanent driving licenses are issued in the capital every working day. About four lakh licenses are issued in a year, and almost one lakh applications are rejected on different grounds.

Similar amendments were sought while applying for a passport in 2016 wherein the Delhi High Court clarified that the use mother’s name is sufficient in cases of being a single parent or a guardian.