Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Mar 12: In a major whip, four District Transport Officers (DTOs) have been suspended from service for their alleged involvement in issuance of national permits to private buses plying in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana violating the Motor Vehicle Act, 1986 and Central Motor Vehicle Act 1989.
The suspended DTOs among, Namsai, Yupia, Capital Complex and Bomdila were put under suspension for their alleged involvement in rampant issuance of national permits to private buses.
In its suspension order No. TPT(B)-19/03/2017/160 dated 28th February 2018, the Secretary Transport stated that disciplinary proceeding against mentioned DTOs are contemplated. Therefore, they have been put under suspension with immediate effect. However, the suspension order did not specify reasons for their suspension.
It was reported that more than 900 private/tourists buses from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana region were issued national permits from Arunachal Pradesh. It is said that permits were issued without physical inspection of vehicle violating the Motor Vehicle Act, 1986 and Central Motor Vehicle Act, 1989.
The matter had surfaced in the national dailies. It was also reported that one Member of Parliament from Andhra Pradesh air-dashed to Itanagar and raised the matter with Chief Minister Pema Khandu seeking for immediate cancellation of permits.
Subsequently, the state government had cancelled the national permits of all tourist buses registered in Arunachal Pradesh but not operating in Arunachal Pradesh.
However, the cancellation was challenged by the bus operators in the Guahati High Court Itanagar bench and the High Court has recently set aside the cancellation order.
There are more than 230 petitions filed by private bus operators challenging the cancellation of national permits.
