By Arfat Khan
JAMMU: Poor man continues to suffer as claims of full integration of erstwhile J&K state and its incarnation as Union Territory with the revocation of article 370 fells flat in Transport Department where corruption is still thriving due to non application of Central Motor Vehicle rules.
The case in point is denying permission for registration process to only three tyres BSVI diesel variant of Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) due to bureaucratic red tapism.
As per order number 14 –TC of 2020 dated 17/02/2020 citing compliance of NGT directions, the officials of Transport Department has banned registration of three tyres (Autorickshaws/Tempos) in J&K.
Poorman used to buy these LCVs to meet their two end meals by using them as goods careers. “Already pushed to corner due to pandemic now the confused and double meaning orders of Transport Department has left us unemployed” said several load career drivers who solely depend on earning from it.
Ironically, the same department is merrily registering BSVI diesel variant of LCVs with four tyres having same specification as that of three tyres, revealed MVD sources.
Not only this in some region of Kashmir, the transport department officers have registered the BSVI Diesal variant three tyres LCVs while the same is being denied to the poor man of Jammu region who want to earn his livelihood by ferying goods in it.
There is a lobby in the transport department who is prospering on brisk corruption due redundant pre registration certification and misguiding the higher authorities in the corridors of power on NGT guidelines on selective basis, alleged an officer of MVD preferring anonymity.
This lobby never want implementation of CMV laws in UT J&K, added sources.
Sources reveal “Files for starting registration of BSVI LCVs (Three Tyres) is biting dust since March 2020 in civil secretariat for want of technical certification approval and irrational application of NGT ruling on selective basis”.
In rest of India and especially UTs, the certification of Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is sufficient for registration of vehicles and the manufacturers are not supposed to get separate certification approval from technical team of the transport authority of respective states, said one officer preferring anonymity.
Erstwhile J&K was the lone state in India where despite ARAI certification, the manufacturer forced to obtained separate certification from the transport department due to prevalence of article 370, said one MVD officer preferring anonymity.
In fact, despite having ARAI certification, the practice of re certification in J&K is cause of breeding ground for corruption in MVD where the team comprising officials and Motor Vehicle Inspector charged Rs one lakh as bribe per model for granting certification approval, alleged MVD insiders.
Except J&K, all UTs and states doing registration process for BSIV diesel variant three as well as four tyres LCVs.
This delay in registration is not only a cause of huge decline in business for the automobile dealers who are already reeling under severe losses due to pandemic but also cause of worries for the poor owners who earned their two end meals by transporting goods in these LCVs.
It’s worth to mention here that ARAI is the prime Testing and Certification Agency notified by the Government of India under rule 126 of Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989.
This premier R&D organisation of the country was set up by the Automotive Industry with the GoI and affiliated to the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
Besides it’s recognised by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology.
With the abrogation of article 370, the CMV rules should be applicable to the UT J&K to end rampant corruption on the name of separate certification prior to registration of vehicles, said one officer of TD preferring anonymity.
Commissioner Secretary Transport Department Hirdesh Kumar prefer not to respond to our calls and queries on sms. However, Transport Commissioner Pardeep Kumar asserted that it’s not the certification which delayed the registration of BSVI diesel variant of three tyres LCVs but the decision of the higher authority to ban registration of diesel operated Autorickshaws and tempos in UT.
When further asked why then the Transport Department is doing registration of diesel driven LCVs in four tyres, he clarified “The ban is on autorickshaws and tempos which used for passengers purpose only”