Transport commissioner VN More said that there is no need for a change in the Motor Vehicles Act to permit RTOs to file cases at police stations since they already have that power.
Transport commissioner VN More on Monday rubbished reports in sections of the media that a proposal was passed recently by the transport department to give regional transport officials the right to file cases under section 420 of the IPC at police stations and put errant autorickshaw and taxi drivers behind bars for tampering with meters and overcharging passengers.
More told DNA that there is no need for a change in the Motor Vehicles Act to permit RTOs to file cases at police stations since they already have that power.
“I know of no such proposal. How can anyone say that it has been passed or is under consideration?” said More. He added that RTO officials refer to relevant laws under their jurisdiction while taking action against errant drivers. “It is part of their daily job and they continue to do it as per Motor Vehicles Act,” he said.
Meanwhile, RTO officials said they have been hesitant in the past to book cases at police stations against drivers, as the legal process is often cumbersome and time-consuming. “We usually register cases of theft or damage to vehicles, but not those concerning meter tampering and arbitrary fare refusals as legal processes take a long time and unless there is clear evidence of frequent cheating by any driver and its severity is proved in court, putting him behind bars becomes difficult,” said an RTO official from RTO Central in Tardeo.
But another official from the eastern RTO in Wadala felt it is an option they may consider in future if the current inspections against drivers do not result in a general reduction in instances of tampering. “It is true that there is no such proposal but the idea is not bad. As a real deterrent, it might be a good choice. But we will keep it only as a last option,” the official said.
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