The Hindu : Autos being driven without valid fitness certificates

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 23, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Autos being driven without valid fitness certificates

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, JAN.22. A fresh crackdown on errant autorickshaw drivers in the Capital has revealed some interesting yet shocking facts including plying of "unfit' vehicles putting at peril the safety of the passengers. A majority of the autorickshaw drivers were found to be driving their vehicles without any valid fitness certificate, without a valid driving licence and, to top it all, without any valid permits. This has also raised a question mark over the role of the Transport Department and its officials in this whole affair.

A large number of autorickshaws were found to be driving without a valid Certificate of Fitness (COF) that is a must and reflects the roadworthiness of the vehicle. Section 56 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 clearly states: "A transport vehicle shall not be deemed to be validly registered unless it carries a certificate of fitness''. Officials point out that if the vehicle does not carry a COF, then the permit is also deemed to be invalid. This has raised questions about the safety of such vehicles and about the safety of the passengers travelling in them. What is worse is that a large number of unscrupulous autorickshaw drivers were found to be driving around the city without valid driving licenses.

Refusing to fall in line, a majority of these drivers were found to be plying their vehicles without wearing the required uniform or badges issued by the Transport Department with much fanfare last year. There is a question mark as to what action the Transport Department would take against those plying without valid COF.

The Delhi Transport Minister, Haroon Yusuf, who is personally monitoring the drive, informed that 940 autorickshaws have been impounded during the last one week. Of this, 296 were impounded on Wednesday alone. The Enforcement Wing teams of the Department checked a total of 12,226 vehicles during this drive and 2,819 vehicles were challaned.

The drive has unearthed the fact that 127 autorickshaws were found driving around the city without valid permits, 22 without COF, 482 without valid driving licenses, 822 without proper uniform, 1,494 without valid badges and in 64 cases, the meters were found not in order.

Mr. Yusuf said nearly 80 squads had been constituted for the ongoing crackdown and the staff had been drawn from the Delhi Transport Corporation.

The Minister said in view of the uniformed men being spotted from far away, it had been decided that these teams would swoop down on the city roads and vantage points in plain clothes. He said the interest of the consumers was uppermost and the drive would continue till the autorickshaw drivers do not mend their ways. He said if they continue to violate the law, then permits would be cancelled and this had already been indicated to the autorickshaw unions.

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