An autorickshaw driver can be issued only one permit, the High Court has ruled, while directing the State to come up with guidelines to implement the directive across the state. The landmark verdict is expected to defang the auto permit mafia and change the way auto system has been functioning.
In its order, the high court directed the State government to take necessary steps expeditiously to evolve a procedure to regulate the transfer of auto permits, which has been marred by corruption and scandals. There have been people who possessed a large number of auto permits and were selling it in black for as high as Rs 30,000 per permit.
“We had filed a petition in the HC seeking changes in the process of issuing auto permits. As per rules, the Transport Department is not supposed to issue more than one permit to a person and also no permit can be issued to auto drivers who do not possess a driver’s license. But the same was not being adopted while granting permits. There were also no procedures laid down for transfer of permits from the permit holders,” said petitioner Somashekar of Bangalore Auto Drivers’ Union.
The HC has directed that henceforth, auto permits shall only be granted to only those applicants who have a valid auto driving license. A person having one auto permit will not be issued more permits. The order states that the government should establish a procedure governing grant of auto permits so that auto drivers are not exploited by persons possessing a number of permits. The issuance of the 40,000 new permits was put on hold as the matter was pending before court.