Probe initiated against 16 transport department officials: CBI to court

Departmental enquiry has been initiated against 16 Delhi transport officials for failing to take action against some motor driving training schools for allegedly violating provisions of Motor Vehicles Act on its recommendation, the CBI has told a court here.

The CBI made the submission after completing preliminary enquiry on the direction of Delhi High Court which had asked it to probe if there was any nexus between transport officials and motor driving schools for illegal gratification and bribe.

The agency, however, filed a closure report in the case saying there was no substantial evidence on the alleged nexus but inquiry has been initiated against the 16 officials for "dereliction of duty" in granting licences to driving schools.

It said the probe disclosed that 16 officials considered the renewal of applications of 10 driving schools that were run by their relatives even after expiry of due date and also overlooked driving instructors' qualifications and experience which were below the prescribed standard.

The agency told special CBI judge Vinod Kumar the officials should have taken action against the erring driving schools by suspending or cancelling their licences or imposing penalty but since no such action was taken, it had recommended to the Delhi government to conduct inquiry against the 16 erring officials.

It said that the Delhi government's Transport Department has already initiated action on the recommendation made by CBI.

The court took note of CBI's submission, and accepted the closure report saying there was no sufficient material to take cognisance of the alleged offenses of criminal conspiracy and those under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.

"I have perused the documents filed along with closure Report Perusal of the same shows that departmental action has been recommended by CBI against some officials for commission omissions in grant/renewal of licenses," the judge noted.

"I am of the opinion that material is not sufficient to take cognisance of the offense (criminal conspiracy and those under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act)," the judge said while accepting the closure report.

In its closure report, the agency submitted that it was found that Motor Vehicle Act has deficient penal provisions against driving schools operating in violation of the rules.

"There is no provision in the Motor Vehicle Act to take action against unauthorised driving schools except a liberal fine of Rs 100 against such vehicles," it said.

The high court while directing CBI to probe the nexus, had said that driving colleges seemed to have mushroomed only as a conduit for illegal gratification and bribes.

In the FIR lodged by the CBI, it was alleged that some driving schools were being run by relatives of transport officials and licences given to such schools were based on the inspection reports, some of which were found incorrect.

It was alleged that transport officials were favouring driving schools in connivance with their relatives working in the department while issuing renewing licence to them.