Police can now suspend permits of errant autos

The drive against errant auto drivers gets a shot in the arm with the Transport department giving traffic police the power to suspend permits of drivers violating permit conditions, reports Nivedita Khandekar.

Traffic policemen will now be able to do much more than just issue challans. The drive against errant auto rickshaw drivers got a shot in the arm with the Transport department giving traffic police the power to suspend permits of drivers violating permit conditions.

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A major reason for this is the short staff strength of the Transport Department as against “better reach” of the traffic personnel, officials said.

Already, as part of their routine prosecutions, Delhi Traffic Department challans 500 auto rickshaw drivers per day on an average for violating traffic rules. They also conduct regular drives against auto rickshaws.

“We have got a clarification from the Transport Department. We can now suspend the permits of those auto rickshaw drivers who are violating permit conditions as laid down by the Transport Department,” Joint Commissioner of Police S.N. Shrivastava said.

During the on-the-spot checks and challans, if any driver is found violating permit conditions, he will first be issued a notice and suspension of permit will follow after due course of natural justice, he said.

Commissioner (Transport) RK Verma said, “This comes as part of our joint efforts in compliance to the HC directives. Also, we have obvious restrictions in terms of staff strength.”

“Also, if a particular auto rickshaw driver is found to be frequently violating permit conditions, his permit will be cancelled,” Verma added.