In a bid to tame corruption and reform the system at Regional Transport Office, the state government has decided to outsource issuance of driving licenses to third party. Moreover registration certificate of new vehicles will be issued by dealerships from November with a view to discourage agents who were charging hefty sums from applicants.
The decision, as per sources in the Transport department, was taken after complaints of rampant corruption and hijacking of RTO’s functioning by agents.
Officials privy to the development informed Kashmir Post that government is finalizing a company which would be handed over the job of issuing driving licenses.
Currently, licenses for driving are issued by the RTO office after conducting driving tests. “But on ground, agents used to play a big role in issuance of licenses because of their understanding with officials,” said a senior Transport department official.
Minister for Transport, Sunil Sharma, confirmed these developments. “Yes we are going to outsource driving license issuance as we want to bring in transparency and accountability in the system.”
“By 2018, Transport department is going to be fully computerized,” Sharma said adding, “Our main objective is to provide services to people at door steps and also discourage unscrupulous elements.”
The minister said that the department from November this year would issue registration from dealerships from where people purchase their vehicles.
“This decision has been taken so that the people don’t have to visit RTO office,” he said.
As per an order (No. 09p-TC of 2017 dated 12-10-2017), registration of fresh non-commercial vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir “shall mandatorily be assisted through authorized dealers” for the “convenience of general public”.
The order says no registration authority (RTO/ARTO) shall entertain any file for new non-commercial vehicles manually or fees in cash or draft from the applicant from November 2017.
“Authorized dealers shall prepare complete file consisting of form no. 20 (Application), form no. 21 (sales letter), form no. 22, invoice of the vehicle, temporary registration number, pan card (or form 60 up to Rs 50000 transaction), address proof and the insurance of the vehicles and deposit the same in the concerned registration authority (RTO/ARTO) for approval and generation of registration number of the vehicle,” the order said.
Fed up with corruption in RTO, Govt outsourcing issuance of driving license
