According to a Government Order (G.O.), the digital DLs and RCs will be available for download free of cost for one year from September 13, or until the relevant provisions of the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, are amended, whichever is earliest.
The State government’s order was in pursuance of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s recent announcement in the Assembly that DLs and RCs would be issued digitally from September 15, enabling members of the public to download the documents themselves on the day of completion of the driving test or vehicle registration.
The digital DLs and RCs will carry QR codes linked to the original electronic documents in government databases, including through the m-Parivahan and DigiLocker facilities. The QR codes will enable real-time verification and are intended to prevent duplicate documents, the order said.
The downloadable DLs and RCs can be printed from the Parivahan portal and can be used instead of physical DLs and RCs issued till September 12. A printout on plain paper or in laminated form or in digital form will be accepted, provided the QR code is clear and can be electronically verified, the order said.
The order also said authorities should not demand or mandate DLs and RCs in physical form after September 12, and seizure, authentication, or records of penalties or enforcement action on DLs and RCs should be done electronically. From September 15, arrangements for printing will be made at all e-Seva centres for people who want a printout of their digital DLs or RCs, subject to the e-Seva centre service fee, the order added.