Will Secretary-cum-Director (Transport) dare to impose challan on Raj Niwas Vehicle?
P Ramesh Kumar
Port Blair, July 19: On June 11, 2012 the Transport department had issued a press note in all local dailies requesting all Islanders to ensure affixation of High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) on their motor vehicles latest by 15.06.2012.
In the press note it was mentioned that in case of failure there will be penalty as per the provisions of MV Act and Rules.
Following this almost all law abiding Islanders had fixed High Security Registration Plate in their vehicles but it is shocking to note that still some government vehicles have not followed the orders of Administration and violated rules, openly.
Andaman Sheekha has photograph of one such vehicle, which carries a name plate of ‘Raj Niwas’ but the vehicle has not been fitted with High Security Registration Plate.
Is it just because of ignorance or because of power of Raj Niwas? Is Raj Niwas Vehicles are above the law? Does the Administration have two sets of rules for Islanders and Raj Niwas officials? If law is equal for everybody then the Transport Department and Traffic Police must impose challan on this vehicle and set an example for others in A & N Islands.
Meanwhile, when enquired into this matter it was learnt that actually the vehicle is registered in name of Secretary (GA) and not Raj Niwas.
Unconfirmed report said that actually the number plate of the vehicle has been changed long back and probably at present two vehicles are running on Andaman road with same number plate. If this is true, then the Traffic Police and Transport Department must impose double challan on the vehicle and prove that rules are not different for Raj Niwas.
Last month, I saw one STS bus probably from Ferrar Gunj unit without HSRP. May I request the Director Transport to clarify the need for issuing repeated public notice (read warning), when his own house is in disarray.