MVA Section 20: Power of Court to disqualify
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 · Chapter 2: LICENSING OF DRIVERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES
¶20. Power of Court to disqualify.—(1) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this Act or of an offence in the commission of which a motor vehicle was used, the Court by which such person is convicted may, subject to the provisions of this Act, in addition to imposing any other punishment authorised by law, declare the persons so convicted to be disqualified, for such period as the Court may specify, from holding any driving licence to drive all classes or description of vehicles, or any particular class or description of such vehicles, as are specified in such licence:
Provided that in respect of an offence punishable under section 183 no such order shall be made for the first or second offence.
(2) Where a person is convicted of an offence under *** section 134 or section 185, the Court convicting any person of any such offence shall order the disqualification under sub-section (1), and if the offence is relatable to *** section 134, such disqualification shall be for a period of not less than one month, and if the offence is relatable to section 185, such disqualification shall be for a period of not less than six months.
(3) A Court shall, unless for special reasons to be recorded in writing it thinks fit to order otherwise, order the disqualification of a person—
(a) who having been convicted of an offence punishable under section 184 is again convicted of an offence punishable under that section,
(b) who is convicted of an offence punishable under section 189, or
(c) who is convicted of an offence punishable under section 192:
Provided that the period of disqualification shall not exceed, in the case referred to in clause (a), five years, or, in the case referred to in clause (b), two years or, in the case referred to in clause (c), one year.
(4) A Court ordering the disqualification of a person convicted of an offence punishable under section 184 may direct that such person shall, whether he has previously passed the test of competence to drive as referred to in sub-section (3) of section 9 or not, remain disqualified until he has subsequent to the making of the order of disqualification passed that test to the satisfaction of the licensing authority.
(5) The Court to which an appeal would ordinarily lie from any conviction of an offence of the nature specified in sub-section (1) may set aside or vary any order of disqualification made under that sub-section notwithstanding that no appeal would lie against the conviction as a result of which such order of disqualification was made.
Study: explanations and related material
Official reference: India Code, Government of India — edition as on 15 August 2026 — source review: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2026-08-15.Banaka reference transcription, not an official or certified edition. General central text: regional amendment blocks are not consolidated. This edition includes Jan Vishwas 2026 changes effective 15 August 2026. Amendment brackets are retained; footnotes and superscript reference numerals are excluded. Consult the complete government PDF for schedules, amendment notes and authoritative wording. State rules and notifications may differ. Hindi guides are original explanations, not a statutory translation.Read the original schedule and amendment notes
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 3. Necessity for driving licence
- 4. Age limit in connection with driving of motor vehicles
- 5. Responsibility of owners of motor vehicles for contravention of sections 3 and 4
- 6. Restrictions on the holding of driving licences
- 7. Restrictions on the granting of learner’s licences for certain vehicles
- 8. Grant of learner’s licence
- 9. Grant of driving licence
- 10. Form and contents of licences to drive
- 11. Additions to driving licence
- 12. Licensing and regulation of schools or establishments for imparting instruction in driving of motor vehicles
- 13. Extent of effectiveness of licences, to drive motor vehicles
- 14. Currency of licences to drive motor vehicles
- 15. Renewal of driving licences
- 16. Revocation of driving licence on grounds of disease or disability
- 17. Orders refusing or revoking driving licences and appeals therefrom
- 18. Driving Licences to drive motor vehicles, belonging to the Central Government
- 19. Power of licensing authority to disqualify from holding a driving licence or revoke such licence
- 21. Suspension of driving licence in certain cases
- 22. Suspension or cancellation of driving licence on conviction
- 23. Effect of disqualification order
- 24. Endorsement
- 25. Transfer of endorsement and issue of driving licence free from endorsement
- 25A. National Register of Driving Licences
- 26. Maintenance of State Registers of Driving Licences
- 27. Power of Central Government to make rules
- 28. Power of State Government to make rules