17A. [ Suspension of driving licence in certain cases. [Inserted by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 1977 (27 of 1977), Section 5 (w.e.f. 1.9.1977).]
- Where, in relation to a person who had been previously convicted of an offence punishable under section 116, a case is registered by a police officer on the allegation that such person has by such reckless or dangerous driving as is referred to in the said section 116, caused the death of, or grievous hurt to, one or more persons, the driving licence held by such person shall become, and shall remain, suspended-(a)for a period of six months from the date on which the case is registered, or(b)if such person is discharged or acquitted before the expiry of the period aforesaid, until such discharge or acquittal, as the case may be.(2)Where by virtue of the provisions of sub-section (1), the driving licence held by a person becomes suspended, the police officer,by whom the case referred to in sub-section (1) is registered, shall bring such suspension to the notice of the Court competent to take cognizance of such offence, and, thereupon, such Court shall, take possession of the driving licence endorse the suspension thereon and forward it to the licensing authority by which it was granted or last renewed and that authority shall, on receipt of the driving licence, keep it in its safe custody until the expiry of the period of suspension, or, as the case may be, until the holder of the licence is discharged or acquitted by the Court trying the offence. and shall, on such expiry or discharge or acquittal, as the case may be, return the licence to the holder thereof on an application made by him for such return:Provided that no such licence shall be returned unless the holder thereof has, after such expiry, discharge or acquittal, undergone and passed, to the satisfaction of the licensing authority by which the licence was issued or last renewed, a fresh test of competence to drive specified in the Third Schedule.(3)Where the person referred to in sub-section (1) is acquitted or discharged, the Court competent to take cognizance of the offence referred to in sub-section (1) shall, on the application of the holder of the driving licence, cancel the endorsement thereon with regard to the suspension of such driving licence.(4)If a licence to drive a particular class or description of motor vehicles is suspended under sub-section (1), the person hold such licence shall be debarred from holding or obtaining any licence to drive such particular class or description of motor vehicles so long as the suspension of the driving licence remains in force.
