Gauhati HC Dismisses PIL Against SOPs of Transport Department

GUWAHATI: Gauhati High Court has dismissed a PIL seeking rectification of the standard operating procedures for printing and delivering registration certificates to both Aadhar and non-Aadhar-based registrations. The petition was filed by one Jiarul Islam in view of the increase in the number of criminal activities in the state of Assam.

The counsel of the petitioner, MR Sodial mentioned that vehicles are used in various antisocial activities taking place in the state and that the new SOPs which have been enforced to eliminate corruption, will in fact add to the fear of the people. He also mentioned that the verification of necessary documentation was previously verified by the transport department, and handing over the process to the authorised dealers will only lead to the use of more counterfeit documents in the process of registering the vehicle.

He also mentioned that the public should be given the freedom to choose how to register their vehicle giving the option of dealer point registration. This way the process can be handled at the authorised automobile dealers, without sending hard copies of the documents to the concerned DTOs. Another point raised by the petitioner was that the officials with the Department of Transport will continue to draw salaries without any work as their work will now be handled by the dealers.

The standing counsel for the Transport Department mentioned that the SOPs dated 26/10/2022 were created to enhance the efficiency, efficacy and effectiveness of the service delivery process to the people and to make the process easier in the interest of the public. It also attempted to include the latest technology in terms of the provisions of the Act and Rules of the Motor Vehicles Acts.

The counsel also mentioned that the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India had made electronic records mandatory as per a notification passed on 31/3/2021. So once the online copy is created, it is no longer necessary to keep the physical copy.

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