Monalisa ChaudhuriPicture: ShutterstockCalcutta: Drivers using mobile phones at the wheel in Bengal can have their licence revoked and be disqualified from holding the licence. The Bengal transport department issued a notification last week, activating rules that enable the authorities to classify the offence as "dangerous driving". (See chart)According to the notification issued by the office of transport commissioner Biswajit Dutta, "the offence of using mobile phone while driving may be punished with disqualification of the driver from holding driving licence and/or revocation of his driving licence... by the appropriate authority, if deemed fit." The rule can be invoked on drivers of heavy vehicles like buses and trucks from the commission of the first offence itself. Till now, it was Rs 100 for first offence and Rs 300 for each subsequent offence• Rs 2,000 or two-year jail or both for commission of subsequent offence within three years from the previous offence• Driving licence can be revoked for first offence by bus and truck drivers• Driving licence can be revoked for subsequent offence by private and small vehicles

Source: The Telegraph February 04, 2018 21:56 UTC