The Madras High Court on September 11 declined to grant an interim stay on Tamil Nadu’s decision to shift the issuance of driving licences (DLs) and vehicle registration certificates (RCs) from physical smart cards to digital documents.
The First Division Bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan instead granted the State time to respond to petitions challenging the new system.
Bengaluru-based Force Identification Private Limited and two others approached the High Court challenging the proposed transition. The petitioners questioned the discontinuation of the existing physical mode and raised issues concerning the legal authority for doing so.
The challenge comes against the backdrop of the State’s plan to make digitally issued DLs and RCs available to applicants, with the documents carrying QR codes for verification.
Appearing for Tamil Nadu, Advocate General Vijay Narayan opposed interim relief. He submitted that the digital system was intended to benefit the public by reducing dependence on physical smart cards and avoiding the need to approach intermediaries at Regional Transport Offices.
He also pointed out that applicants would no longer have to pay the earlier charge of about ₹250 for printing and issuing smart cards. Those requiring physical copies could obtain printouts from e-Seva centres.
The State further submitted that the Motor Vehicles Act and the rules framed under it permitted the transition to electronic documents.
After hearing the submissions, the Bench declined to halt the government’s move at this stage and accepted the State’s request for time to file detailed counter affidavits in the three writ petitions.
Accordingly, the Madras High Court refused interim stay on Tamil Nadu’s digital driving licence and registration certificate rollout.
Case Title: Force Identification Private Limited v State of Tamil Nadu
Case No: WP No 37110 of 2026
