“Why are you not penalising VIPs who are violating the law,” is the angry question thrown at traffic policemen who happen to challan motorcyclists and others in Adilabad for violating the provisions of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules. They point towards the brazen violation by none other than Adilabad Collector M. Jagan Mohan, who happens to be the chairman of the Road Transport Authority.
The manner in which the registration number plate on the official vehicle of the Collector has been displayed violates Rule 51 of CMV Rules, 1989, which constitute the basis of all Motor Vehicle Acts. Only one digit of the four allotted as registration number of his vehicle has been displayed, which is also violative of Section 41, Sub-section 6 of the Motor Vehicle Act. The vehicle was allotted registration number TS01EF0001, and all the letters and numerals should be displayed in two horizontal lines on the number plate, the numerals being on the second. The vehicle, however, has on display the numeral 1 on its registration plate, in addition to another plate which displays the designation of the incumbent. “We did warn his staff about the issue likely to crop up because of the faulty display of the registration number on his vehicle. Our warning was apparently ignored,” said an official of the RTA, Adilabad, on the condition of anonymity, when The Hindu asked whether the authorities had knowledge about the violation, adding that it was only because the Collector did not like having three zeroes on his car’s registration plate, he was using an old number plate and not the High Security Number Plate that was issued by the department. “Yes, we agree that violation from a top official will have a negative impact when it comes to enforcing rules. There are so many vehicle owners who are now displaying their vehicle registration numbers according to their fancy rather than following the rule,” the RTA official pointed out.
Another aspect which is not clear even to the RTA is the use of red and other beacon lights on government vehicles, other than those of the Police Department, which has been considerably restricted by the Supreme Court. Though officials say a circular has been issued by the State government in this regard, they failed to locate it.
“Though we are using the beacon light, I am actually not aware of the rule on this,” confessed a Revenue Divisional Officer whose official vehicle has a red beacon. “We just do it to gain quick passage through crowded places,” he said.
