In Brief
The Supreme Court upheld strict interpretation of driving licence eligibility criteria in police recruitment. Candidates whose licences expired within the two-year continuous possession requirement were disqualified, despite later renewal. The Court rejected the High Court's liberal reading that renewal relates back to expiry, curing the break. The 2019 Motor Vehicles Amendment abolished the 30-day grace period and enforces strict compliance: any interruption in licence validity defeats eligibility. Recruitment authorities may prescribe objective criteria; courts cannot substitute judicial discretion for administrative discretion. The Court allowed the recruitment board's appeals and directed expedited completion of recruitment within three months.
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