Now, traffic cops to mention details of school, driver while issuing challans

After a scam involving the use of fake registration plates on school buses was exposed by city-based RTI activist Ajay Sharma, an FIR was registered against unknown persons. In view of these recent developments, Ludhiana Police Commissioner issued written directions to traffic police officials to ensure that while issuing challans to school buses, they noted down the details of the school concerned, the bus, the driver’s mobile number or address, and the details of the transporter.

Earlier, cases were registered against unknown persons because the traffic police officials had failed to mention the information of the schools, drivers, or transporters while issuing challans. They had only mentioned the registration numbers of the buses that were challaned, which turned out to be fake.

These recent directions have been made possible after activist Ajay sent a complaint to Punjab DGP and sought the issuance of these directions to the traffic police in this regard. The DGP had asked the ADGP (traffic) to initiate the necessary action, and the ADGP then sent further directions to the Ludhiana Commissioner.

Pertinently, the activist, after having procured details about the challans issued to a few school buses on investigation, found that the number plates that these buses had were fake. In fact, the numbers on which the challans had been issued to the buses actually belonged to two-wheelers. Following this, Ajay lodged a complaint, and an FIR was registered.

The directions, issued by the Commissioner to all traffic zone incharges, stated, “You are hereby directed to ensure that you yourself and, through the group of NGOs posted in your zone, ensure that when any traffic challan is issued, especially for a school vehicle, the details of that vehicle, the school concerned, and the owner/responsible/contractor in case the school vehicle is private and the complete details of the driver of the school vehicle, such as the name of the driver/owner, address, and mobile number, etc are noted.”

Meanwhile, the RTI activist suggested that whenever traffic police issued challans for school buses, officials must verify the authenticity of the registration number so that such scams could be avoided.