The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government on Monday delivered on its promise of making amendments to the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act aimed at “saving” the auto rickshaw drivers from alleged harassment at the hands of the Traffic Police.
During an event organised for auto drivers in Burari on May 17, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had declared that the Transport Department was working on an initiative.
As per a recently-issued order, the powers of the Traffic Police occupying the rank of Assistant Commissioners of Police to levy fines and impound vehicles under Section 86 (4) of the MV Act have been curtailed to goods carriers across light, medium and heavy categories. Auto rickshaws and e-rickshaws have been removed from the ambit of enforcement.
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While the right to impose fines for “minor offences” like not wearing a uniform is now the exclusive domain of the Transport Department, the Traffic Police continue to enforce the law in terms of violations like lack of permit, driver’s licence, fitness certificates and drunken driving.