Only Doctors registered with Tamil Nadu Medical Council can certify License Seekers
Chennai: The State Transport and Road Safety Commissioner has
announced updated guidelines mandating that only doctors registered with the Tamil Nadu Medical Council (TNMC) can issue medical
certificates for individuals aged 40 and above for new driving licences or renewal of the existing ones.
The new regulations have been formed as a significant move to curb the submission of fraudulent medical certificates for driving licence applications and renewals.
As per the new guideline, the new medical certificates must be
uploaded through the Sarathi portal, a centralized system for transport-related
services. The Commissioner stated
that applicants over the age of 40 can obtain a new driving license or renew an
existing one only after securing a medical certificate from a TNMC-registered
doctor, in accordance with the Central Motor Vehicle Rules. This measure aims
to ensure the authenticity of the medical evaluations required for driving
licenses, reports DT Next.
The Commissioner
highlighted that there have been numerous incidents of fake medical
certificates being issued across various regions in the state. To tackle this
problem, new measures have been put in place to verify the credentials of
doctors issuing these certificates, especially regarding the renewal of licences.
New Verification Process
for Doctors
Under the new system,
doctors are required to upload their TNMC registration certificate number,
along with details of their clinic or hospital on the Sarathi website. They
must also provide their name and other relevant information. Once the
verification is complete, doctors will be permitted to upload the medical
certificates of applicants directly into the Sarathi system. This step is
expected to prevent the misuse of medical certificates issued by unregistered
or fake doctors, thereby enhancing the reliability of the certification
process.
Training
and Familiarization
To ensure that doctors are well-acquainted with
the new system, Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) across Tamil Nadu will
conduct demonstrations on Tuesday at 11 am. These sessions aim to educate and
train medical professionals on how to use the Sarathi portal for uploading
medical certificates and verify their records accurately.
The State Transport and Road Safety Commissioner
believes that these new regulations will significantly reduce instances of fake
medical certifications and ensure that only qualified individuals receive
driving licenses, thereby enhancing road safety.
