Surat police forms rules for TRB jawans, prompted by RTI plea

Times of India: Surat: Sunday, 06 September 2020.

An application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seems to have prompted Surat city traffic police to formulate rules that govern the traffic brigade (TRB) jawans.

The decision of the city police taken last week also assumes significance was there have been incidents in recent past where TRB jawans have been accused of extortion and illegally penalising traffic violators.

Currently 1,486 TRB jawans are working in Surat against total approved strength of 1,600. These jawans work under Traffic Education Trust and their services are of honorary nature, for which they are paid an honorarium.

In July, 78-year-old retired banker Hasmukh Modi filed an RTI application seeking information from Surat police about the rules that govern the TRB jawans, who assist in managing city traffic at various junctions. Hasmukh also questioned the power given to the jawans.

“My father was disturbed after watching a few videos on social media of a TRB jawan manhandling citizens and extorting money from them,” said Hasmukh’s son Rajesh Modi, a textile engineer. The father-son duo have been regularly filing RTI applications on various civic issues.

In his application, Hasmukh had sought details of rules that govern the TRB jawans. He also asked if any punitive actions can be taken against erring TRB jawans. Hasmukh had specifically asked if these jawans were allowed to stop vehicles in case of traffic violation and collect fine.

In reply to the RTI application, the public information officer of city traffic police replied, “There is no information available related to the questions in the form of record.”

“I have never come across such a vague reply from the government office till now. It was shocking to know that they (city police) don’t have any rules that govern the TRB jawans who assist a law enforcing agency,” said Rajesh.

However, last week, the traffic department formulated detailed rules governing the TRB jawans. “There were no rules for TRB since its inception. It came to our knowledge recently, after which we formed detailed rules and this will help us ensure discipline in performance of the traffic brigade,” said Prashant Sumbe, deputy commissioner of police, traffic.

Earlier this year, a TRB jawan was arrested on corruption charges while a couple of others were booked in Mahidharpura police station for extortion attempt.