Mumbai, April 24 -- The Maharashtra government has issued a draft notification to amend the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 which will enable the state to implement its policy of compulsory working knowledge of Marathi language for licensing, permits and renewal, particularly for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers, official sources in the state secretariat confirmed today .
The Home (Transport) Department published the draft under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, proposing changes to Rules 4, 78 and 85.
Under the proposed amendments, licensing authorities will be empowered to assess an applicant's ability to communicate in Marathi before granting authorisation to drive public service vehicles.
The draft also introduces a clause requiring...