Licence goof-up at DTO

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 16

A city-based retired Army officer has been running from pillar to post for the last three months seeking a refund of Rs 3,000, the amount levied on him by the Transport Department as late fee for the renewal of his driving licence, but to no avail.

A recipient of the Sena Medal, Dr Col (retd) Rajesh Saini said realising that his licence was set to expire on February 9 this year, he approached the department on February 7, but to his surprise, he was told that he had sought renewal two years late and that he should pay Rs 3,000 as late fee in addition to the routine Rs 300 fee for the job.

Col Saini said, “When I asked them how this could be, I was shown a date under the head— transport vehicle— on his card which showed February 9, 2015 as the date of expiry of the licence. I told them that I was a retired dentist and an Army officer and had no business in plying a transport vehicle. I had taken the licence for a non-transport vehicle, but they were not ready to accept my clarification. I kept making rounds for two days and finally on February 9 (the last date), I had no option but to pay Rs 3,300 to apply for the licence.”

Having received his licence now, the officer says he had been trying to get back the additional payment made to the department officials. After he lodged the complaint, the District Transport Officer (DTO), Jalandhar, on April 25 replied saying, “According to the records of this office, the driving licence was renewed till February 10, 2012 from February 11, 2009. The licence was valid for motor cycle/light motor vehicle (LMV). The applicant was previously holding a driving licence which was valid up to December 8, 2008 and was not originally issued by this office. Therefore, the number of licence was renewed as MCWG/LMV/LMVGV upto February 9, 2015 (transport) and February 9, 2017 (non-transport). The change of category was effected automatically in the online system. The software, Sarthi, under which the driving licence was issued, has been designed by the NIC. So, this office has charged the fee required by the system. As far as charging of renewal fee is concerned, the fee is charged from date of expiry for licence of transport or non-transport vehicle, whichever is earlier.”

Not convinced, the applicant, who is also a senior citizen, has posed questions to the department. “How is it so that without my consent and without additional fee and application for an upgrade, the category of LMVGV was added? How can the software make an automatic conversion of categories? In contrast to their statement, why are they giving a second date of validity at all if it has already expired on an earlier date?”