Date:19/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/19/stories/2005091915290400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Driving licence for the deaf

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Transport Department has recently given effect to a Union Government amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act, empowering the deaf to get driving licence provided they were able to hear with the help of a hearing aid. The Transport Commissioner in a notification said the competent officer — the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) or the Assistant RTO — can grant driving licence to deaf persons after examining their hearing ability with the use of hearing aid and scrutinising necessary medical certificates.

The Commissioner asked RTOs/ARTOs to grant driving licence for non-transport vehicles to dumb persons provided they were capable of hearing sounds without any external aids. Such persons should produce a medical certificate to the effect they were not hearing impaired.

The first of such driving licence test will be conducted at the office of the RTO, Bangalore (East) at Indiranagar BDA Complex between noon and 12.30 p.m. on Monday, according to a press release from Swayamwara, a voluntary organisation working for the deaf.