Under the Chief Minister's leadership, the state government has delegated full jurisdiction to the respective registration and licensing...

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Took a Major Step to Clear Backlog of Driving Licenses and Registration Certificates

Chandigarh: In yet another bold and citizen-centric decision, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has taken a crucial step to clear the long-pending backlog of Driving Licenses (DL) and Registration Certificates (RC) across the state, ensuring faster services and long-overdue relief for the public.

Under the Chief Minister’s leadership, the state government has delegated full jurisdiction to the respective registration and licensing authorities to streamline and speed up the process of renewing and issuing RCs and DLs. This long-awaited move aims to address years of piled-up cases and make services more accessible for the common man.

Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, while sharing details of this landmark step, said that people can now apply online to get their old vehicles and driving licenses updated. “Due to the earlier lack of online records and approval pathways, citizens faced major hurdles. This bottleneck has now been cleared under the new guidelines,” he stated.

The Minister revealed that the directive was issued on May 24, 2024, by the office of the State Transport Commissioner, and clear instructions were been sent to all registering and licensing authorities to process the backlog on a priority basis.

CM Mann’s Directive: Accountability and Transparency at the Core

This move, taken under the active direction of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, puts a strong emphasis on transparency, accountability, and system overhaul. Officials have been asked to ensure the backlog work is not only completed swiftly but also with utmost accuracy.

To process the backlog of RCs:

An affidavit certified by an Executive Magistrate will be mandatory, which must include information about the registration timeline, vehicle category, tax payment status, and accuracy of all details.

A physical inspection report from the Motor Vehicle Inspector must be uploaded, verifying details like chassis and engine number.

The ownership transfer history must also be uploaded to keep track of previous owners.

In the case of DLs:

Applications must be submitted through the original issuing authority.

A certified copy of the original license, along with proof of birth and address, must be uploaded to the Sarathi software.

The entire process will be handled only by permanent departmental staff, and all entries must be verified before final approval.

Strict Monitoring and Daily Reporting

In line with CM Mann’s governance style, the process will be closely monitored. The authorities handling RCs and DLs will be held personally accountable for any discrepancies. Each office is required to send daily reports of backlog approvals to the head office in the prescribed format.

This decision is being seen as part of Bhagwant Mann’s larger vision to make government services more efficient, transparent, and corruption-free. By personally overseeing and pushing such reforms, the Chief Minister continues to redefine what public service delivery looks like in Punjab.

With this move, Punjab has taken a giant leap in cutting red tape and bringing long-awaited administrative relief to its people—once again, under the direct initiative and commitment of CM Bhagwant Mann.