Private bus staff in Kerala will now have to produce a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) to continue working, as the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) moves to tighten checks on employees accused of traffic violations and misconduct.

The department has warned private bus owners that employing staff without the required PCC could result in a ₹7,500 fine and proceedings to cancel the bus permit. The stricter enforcement follows recent surprise inspections in which the MVD found that most bus employees checked did not have the certificate.

The new requirement is aimed at verifying the background of private bus employees and addressing complaints involving their conduct on the road and towards passengers and pedestrians.

MVD steps up checks on private bus employees

The MVD has received increasing complaints about private bus staff over overspeeding, reckless driving, poor behaviour towards passengers and pedestrians and violations of road rules.

Authorities have also seen a rise in complaints supported by photographs and videos recorded on mobile phones. In several cases, such footage has been used as evidence during subsequent inspections and enforcement action.

The department has also received reports that some bus employees are involved in drug use or have criminal cases against them. The PCC requirement is intended to help authorities check employees' backgrounds and reduce the possibility of incidents involving passengers or others on road.

Bus owners could face action for hiring staff without PCC

The MVD's warning also puts responsibility on private bus owners. If an owner employs a worker who does not have the required Police Clearance Certificate, enforcement action can follow.

Apart from the ₹7,500 penalty, authorities can initiate steps to cancel the vehicle's permit for violations.

The issue came into sharper focus after the MVD's recent surprise inspections found a large number of employees without PCCs, prompting officials to decide on stricter checks.