The Karnataka high court pulled up the state transport commissioner, Shyam Bhat, questioning him about action he had taken against truck owners flouting laws.
The high court on Monday pulled up the state transport commissioner, Shyam Bhat, questioning him about what action he was taking against truck owners flouting laws and carrying huge loads, destroying roads in the process.
The high court directed the commissioner to submit an action-taken report within two weeks in this regard.
Karnataka Truckers’ Forum filed a petition in the high court claiming that there was a nexus between several large firms and the Regional Transport Officer (RTO).
The Forum claimed that it was on this account that overloaded trucks were allowed to ply, in flagrant violation of norms.
The petitioner contended that the livelihood of members of the Forum was at stake, as roads on which they drove were badly damaged.
Justice S Abdul Nazeer, hearing the case, sought an action-taken report from Bhat in two weeks’ time. Notices were also issued to the managing director, Jindal Steel Works and managing director, JK Cement.
The judge, who had summoned Bhat to the hearing, said, “You are responsible for our roads. You cannot allow overloaded vehicles to ply. If you visit the West Coast, you will see how badly damaged roads are.”
The judge said that the commissioner ought to instruct the law officers in the transport department to enforce the law.
Three categories
Under provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, trucks are divided in three categories: six-wheelers, allowed to carry 10 tonnes; ten-wheelers, which can carry 16 tonnes; and 12- wheelers, allowed a 21-tonne load.
Permits are issued in accordance with these provisions. If a truck is found laden above its capacity, the offence is punished with a fine of Rs2,000 or Rs1,000, depending on the load and whether or not it is a repeat offence.
It has been observed that even after fines are collected, vehicles are allowed to ply on the road. Under the rules, the trucks have to be offloaded of the excess load before being allowed to ply.
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