While most employees the world over clamour for a raise and a promotion, inspectors across regional transport offices (RTOs) in the State had to be threatened with an inquiry before they accepted one.
As many as 35 inspectors who were selected for a promotion to the level of assistant regional transport officer (RTO) had refused to accept the career advancement.
Senior officials said a circular was issued against them in May with a warning that an inquiry will be conducted against them by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). “The threat of an ACB inquiry seems to have worked as 25 of them have agreed to accept the promotion,” a senior transport department official said.
There are over 500 inspectors in the State and over 60 assistant RTOs. Earlier this year, out of 64 inspectors selected for promotion, 29 inspectors accepted it while the rest refused.
The reasons may not be all that hard to guess. While the inspectors themselves cited reasons such as old age and the threat of getting transferred, their jobs require them to provide clearances for driving licences, inspect new vehicles and issue fitness certificates. In monetary terms, the job is lucrative, aided by the network of agents at their respective road transport offices.
“As per the law, inspectors are transferred routinely. While some of the cases may be genuine, it was learnt that a large number of inspectors wanted to continue in their position,” an official said.
The warning issued to them was a way to separate those with genuine reasons from those wanting to hold on to the golden goose. “There may be a few who would have genuine reasons for not wanting the promotion. For those people, we can look at alternative solutions,” a senior transport department official said.
