Poor records hinder policemen

In April 2008, Hindustan Times conducted a campaign against taxi and rickshaw drivers who refused to ply short distances. A reporter went out for four days into the city and tried flagging down drivers for short fares.

In April 2008, Hindustan Times conducted a campaign against taxi and rickshaw drivers who refused to ply short distances. A reporter went out for four days into the city and tried flagging down drivers for short fares.

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Hindustan Times lodged online complaints against 31 drivers who refused fares. But, four months after the complaints were lodged, the traffic police could fine just four of them.

Then Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Harish Baijal said the police got addresses of 31 drivers from the Regional Transport Office (RTO), but were unable to trace 27 of them. “The addresses were either vague or fake,” Baijal had said.

The police received the addresses only 10 days after the complaints were made. The drivers were mailed summons, but none of them turned up. The police then sent constables to the addresses.

“If the addresses are incorrect or vague, how can we take action? The drivers would go scot-free and would have no fear of the law,” Baijal had said.