Are some Delhi buses being driven by colour blind drivers? DELHI

Information commissioner's letter suggests drivers submit fake medical certificates during recruitment.

A file photo of former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit inaugurating a fleet of new DTC buses.

Lives of thousands of bus commuters in the capital may be at risk if it is found to be true that the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has been hiring medically unfit people as bus drivers, and in some cases even those who are colour blind.


In an open letter to Delhi chief mnister Arvind Kejriwal and ‘conerned officers’, information commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu, writing in a personal capacity, has highlighted that the Corporation has hired hundreds of drivers based on fake medical certificates. He expressed that the matter be dealt with urgently considering lives are at stake.


DTC has nearly 15,000 drvers for its 5,216 buses in Delhi. Of these drivers, about 7,000 are hired on contract while the rest are employees.  


“It is alleged that at least six hundred (drivers) have colour blindness... If this is even party true, the right to life of commuters in Delhi city will be under serious and constant threat until it is ensured that every driver is fit enough to drive the buses,” Acharyulu wrote in the letter, dated 21 January 2014.



Acharyulu’s letter comes in the wake of the January 15 hearing over an appeal by a certain Dhan Singh, who had sought information from DTC under the Right to Information Act in June 2012. Suspecting a fake medical certificate scandal in DTC, Singh had sought information regarding the recruitment of drivers, including action taken on those drivers who have been appointed on the basis of fake medical certificates.


“The RTI application, in fact, was about a single driver, which led to investigation, thanks to vigilant DTC, leading to revelation that hundreds of such drivers were allegedly appointed without “fitness”. The matter of concern is that the RTI application dates back to 18.6.2012, which is passing through different layers of bureaucracy and yet to reach finality,” reads Acharyulu’s letter.  


DTC’s bureaucratic delays are highlighted by the fact that its own vigilance officer had submitted that one particular driver found inelgible to be appointed had been working and dodging an enquiry. Likewise, the vigilance officer pointed out that complaints needed to be probed against 300-400 drivers for allegedly submitting fake medical certificates. Despite the vigilance officer having submitted a report to the Depot Manager, no action has been taken.


“I feel there is a serious urgency to look into the issue... I hope the CM of Delhi, concerned minister and other authorities of DTC or any other personality in governments of Delhi and Union of India, besides public spirited people would view this open letter and act appropriately,” Acharyulu wrote.



Source : DNA , 22nd Jan 2014