Driving licence no longer valid as address proof

The next time you flaunt your driving licence when asked for proof of residence, think again. A circular issued by state home department on November 21, received by the Pune regional transport office (RTO) on Tuesday, states that driving licence should no more be considered valid document for that purpose.

It has been mentioned in the circular that driving licences are used for new landline telephone and mobile phone connections, housing schemes, etc. However the state transport department does not verify addresses or ownership while issuing licences and hence it cannot be held as proof of residence.

The state chief secretary, Ratnakar Gaikwad, on November 21. A few days earlier, additional chief secretary JP Dange had announced that a ration card can no longer be considered as address proof.

Pune RTO Arun Yeola said, “It was in the pipeline. In the past there were several cases of bogus licences, where the police used to question us. Now we will no more be blamed for fraud.”

He claimed that earlier, when issuing a driving licence, the state transport department did not verify the applicants’ addresses, leading to fraud.