Kerala MVD bears brunt of Minister-Commissioner tussle; Posts lying vacant

Thiruvananthapuram: The functioning of the Kerala Motor Vehicle Department went awry due to a conflict between Department Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar and Transport Commissioner S. Sreejith. For over two years, promotions and transfers of officers have been stalled, leaving several key positions unfilled. Currently, there are vacancies for four Regional Transport Officers (RTOs), 14 Joint RTOs, and 74 Assistant Vehicle Inspectors.

Departmental disciplinary proceedings were also subverted amid the row at the top. The Enforcement RTO was suspended only two months after the Transport Commissioner found the official guilty of tax evasion. Although the Minister had announced that action will be taken against 15 officials who issued driving licenses to those who did not appear for the test, the action got stuck in the middle of the dispute.

The dispute that started between the two over the driving test reforms has gone on to affect the department's operations. With the Minister and the Commissioner taking different positions, the high-security number plate project is also now in uncertainty.

The printing of the driving license and RCs which started without permission of the Finance Department has also stopped again. No action has been taken to replace the 64 vehicles that were withdrawn after they turned 15 years old. Apart from that the department wasted by not spending Rs 26.78 crore, allocated in the budget.

Intermediaries for transfers

While the dispute was going on at the top level, middlemen were taking over the transfers in the department thereby making huge amounts through the same. Officials are being approached by those promising to appoint them to crucial posts. Meanwhile, some phone conversations have surfaced indicating the same.