Bassi urges people to not misuse exemption in odd-even scheme

Delhi Police today asserted that it does not apprehend any serious problem in implementation of the odd-even scheme and appealed to Delhiites to not misuse the exemption related to medical emergency, saying they should not start their new year with a lie.
"I appeal to people in Delhi not to start their new years by lying about medical emergencies to evade the scheme, which is largely based on common trust," Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi told reporters when asked about potential misuse of the exemption in connection with medical emergencies.
Asserting that despite manpower constraints, the department has taken several steps to improve road safety and ensure mobility with safety in Delhi, Bassi said, "So this (the odd-even scheme) will be another task, in which we do not apprehend any serious problem, particularly because the number of exemptions make the job easier."

The top cop, who had yesterday said that the policy is being rolled out in a hurry, however, added that they have sought some clarifications on the exemptions.
He also appealed to people to not go for fake number plates or related ideas in order to evade the scheme, as the offence does not only violate the Motor Vehicles Act but also attract provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
The police chief said that traffic officials are anyway always deployed on the roads, so participating in a dry run of the scheme tomorrow, which he claimed he is yet not aware of, wouldn't be a problem.

Apart from the exemption on medical emergencies, the traffic department has asked Delhi Government about clarification on a number of exemptions, of which one happens to be related to women.

"What do we do if a woman, who doesn't know how to drive, is travelling with a driver? Do we ask the driver to leave his seat, eventually leaving the woman stranded? This is one issue on which we would like to take up with the government and ask if an amendment in the scheme is possible," Bassi said.
Meanwhile, the police chief today tweeted: "DP urges
people not to misuse rhe exemption no. 23 - medical emergency - of the Odd Even Notification. Be truthful while claiming it. Thanks."

Bassi maintained that action will be taken against any volunteer who takes law into his hands by forcing motorists to follow the restrictions.
On Sunday he had tweeted: "DP to enforce odd even REQUESTING GOVT: Volunteers to assist DP & to act as told. ALL NOTE: Rule of Law & Vigilantism are incompatible. Once volunteers report to DP, they shall be briefed and deployed as per an action plan. No undue harassment of road users is the objective."
Bassi clearly stated that any act of stopping an individual from driving, committed by anyone other than a police official or member of an enforcement team of the transport department, will be treated as wrongful restraint, which is a cognisable offence under the Indian Penal Code and they are likely to face legal action.

Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai criticised Bassi yesterday for his remarks that action will be taken against any volunteer who takes law into hands during the odd-even scheme, saying that the latter should not talk like a spokesperson of a political party.
Rai also clarified that Delhi government will "not deploy AAP volunteers but Civil Defence personnel" during the road-rationing experiment and asked the police commissioner not to give "misinformation" to people of Delhi on the scheme.
Bassi later reacted by saying, "Such reactions are only a source of entertainment. They add spice to life.