HC issues notice on claim of bribes for licence in DTC

The Delhi High Court has issued notice to central government, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Delhi government and others on a PIL seeking probe into issuance of fake driving licence to unskilled drivers of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC).

A division bench headed by Chief Justice G. Rohini also issued notice to the Delhi transport department, DTC, and Delhi Police and asked them to file reply on the issue as it posted the matter for March 11.

The court order came on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by social activist Pawan Kumar, who has alleged that some corrupt officials of the state transport department issued driving licences to untrained and unskilled people after taking hefty bribes.

"Due to issuance of direct heavy transport vehicle (HTV) driving licences to the unskilled persons, they started driving heavy vehicles (DTC buses) on Delhi roads, due to which the rates of accidents have increased and innocent persons have been killed," said the PIL which came up on hearing Wednesday.

Pawan Kumar told the court this practice is going on since 1997 and sought a CBI probe over it so that erring officials can be dealt with in accordance with law.