Times of India: Ludhiana: Friday, 19 July 2024.
Data received under the RTI Act, found that despite major violations, the officials had only issued challans for minor violations to the buses, many of which were reportedly using fake registration numbers
The regional transport
officer (RTO) has initiated a probe into alleged irregularities concering the
issuance of challans to private school buses under the Safe School Vahan
policy. The move comes after deputy commissioner Sakshi Sawhney sought a report
from the RTO regarding these allegations two weeks ago.
The RTO summoned the complainant in the case on Thursday and sought documentary proof supporting his complaint.
Ajay Sharma, a resident of New Shakti Vihar, had filed a complaint with the deputy commissioner, alleging discrepancies in a status report submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the past. The complainant was the petitioner in a related case.
While hearing his petition, the high court had directed the district administration to provide a status report on the implementation of the Safe School Vahan policy in 2016. Acting on the court’s order, the then DC had submitted an affidavit based on the RTO’s report, stating that 184 challans had been issued to buses from nine prominent private schools.
However, later, when the complainant sought records of these 184 challans under the RTI Act, he found that despite major violations, the officials had only issued challans for minor violations to the buses, many of which were reportedly using fake registration numbers.
According to Sharma, the majority of the registration numbers belonged to motorcycles and auto rickshaws, not school buses.
The violations cited in the affidavit included lack of valid driving licences, pollution certificates, fitness certificates, permits, tax, and insurance.
He alleged that major offences by school buses of prominent private schools were deliberately ignored by the officials of the regional transport office to protect these institutions.
Acting on his complaint, the DC sought a report from the RTO for the third time in the past two and a half months. Earlier, the DC sought reports from RTO on April 25, June 24 and July 3, respectively.
The complainant said, “The RTO summoned me in his office to present my side and furnish the documentary proof. Therefore, I appeared before the RTO and informed him that I have already submitted the proof with the complaint.”
RTO Randeep Singh said, “The matter is around eight to nine years old. Acting on the complaint, we have initiated probe and will take action as per the outcome.”
Data received under the RTI Act, found that despite major violations, the officials had only issued challans for minor violations to the buses, many of which were reportedly using fake registration numbers
The RTO summoned the complainant in the case on Thursday and sought documentary proof supporting his complaint.
Ajay Sharma, a resident of New Shakti Vihar, had filed a complaint with the deputy commissioner, alleging discrepancies in a status report submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the past. The complainant was the petitioner in a related case.
While hearing his petition, the high court had directed the district administration to provide a status report on the implementation of the Safe School Vahan policy in 2016. Acting on the court’s order, the then DC had submitted an affidavit based on the RTO’s report, stating that 184 challans had been issued to buses from nine prominent private schools.
However, later, when the complainant sought records of these 184 challans under the RTI Act, he found that despite major violations, the officials had only issued challans for minor violations to the buses, many of which were reportedly using fake registration numbers.
According to Sharma, the majority of the registration numbers belonged to motorcycles and auto rickshaws, not school buses.
The violations cited in the affidavit included lack of valid driving licences, pollution certificates, fitness certificates, permits, tax, and insurance.
He alleged that major offences by school buses of prominent private schools were deliberately ignored by the officials of the regional transport office to protect these institutions.
Acting on his complaint, the DC sought a report from the RTO for the third time in the past two and a half months. Earlier, the DC sought reports from RTO on April 25, June 24 and July 3, respectively.
The complainant said, “The RTO summoned me in his office to present my side and furnish the documentary proof. Therefore, I appeared before the RTO and informed him that I have already submitted the proof with the complaint.”
RTO Randeep Singh said, “The matter is around eight to nine years old. Acting on the complaint, we have initiated probe and will take action as per the outcome.”
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