O R D E R

Writ Petition is filed for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1st respondent to return the driving license of the petitioner bearing D.L.No.TN 20-Z19850002080.

2. It is informed by the learned counsel for the respondent that the proceedings are pending before the 1st respondent. However, it is noticed that the Division Bench of this Court in P.Sethuraman Vs. The Licensing Authority reported in (2010) 2 MLJ 778 has dealt with this issue and held as under:

“ 8. A bare reading of Section 19(1) shows that the Licensing Authority has the power to revoke any licence or disqualify a person for a specified period from holding or obtaining a Driving Licence, if any of the contingencies prescribed in Clauses (a) to (h) of sub- section (1) of Section 19 arises. Moreover, the power under Section 19(1) can be invoked only after giving an opportunity of being heard to the holder of the licence and for reasons to be recorded in writing.

9. But in the case on hand, the licence of the appellant was impounded or retained by the police immediately after the accident. Thereafter, the respondent issued the show cause notice under Section 19(1) of the Act, after getting a report from the