Barwani RTO Under Scrutiny Over Unclear Trials, Claims Of Licences Without Trial

Questions Raised Over Driving Licence Process at Barwani RTO

The driving licence process at the District Transport Office (RTO) in Barwani has come under scrutiny, with applicants raising serious allegations about the functioning of the licence branch. Questions have also been raised over the role of Santosh Kanesh, the officer in charge of the branch.

Applicants have alleged that the driving trial process is unclear and that officials avoid giving direct answers when information is sought. Concerns have also been raised over allegations that some applicants get their work done through agents, while discussions about licences being issued without a trial have added to questions about the functioning of the system.

Questions Over Trial Process

According to sources and complaints from applicants, clear information is not being provided about the date, process and rules for the driving trial required for obtaining a licence.

Applicants are reportedly asked to wait or are told to get in touch through other means. This has raised questions about the way the office handles information related to the trial. Applicants are asking why the trial process is not being made public and transparent.

The issue has also raised a broader question about whether the licence system at the government office is meant to serve ordinary applicants or is functioning through agents.

Allegations Over Licences Without Trial

Discussions outside the office have reportedly intensified over claims that licences are allegedly being issued to some people without the prescribed trial or even when they have failed the trial. However, these allegations have not been independently confirmed.

At the same time, applicants who say they have completed the process as required under the rules have complained of making repeated visits to the office. If such a situation is taking place, it would point to a serious weakness in the system.

The complaints have increased the demand for clarity on how trials are scheduled, how results are recorded and how the final decision to issue a licence is taken.

Questions Over Role of Agents

Questions have also been raised about agents who are active around the RTO premises. There are allegations that applicants who approach the office through these agents get their work completed relatively quickly.

In contrast, people who apply directly are alleged to face waiting and other difficulties. This has led to questions about why a situation has developed in a government office where ordinary citizens may feel compelled to rely on intermediaries for their work.

The allegations concern not only the licence branch but also the overall supervision of the process. Applicants have sought a clear explanation of the procedure and the manner in which their applications are handled.

Senior Officials’ Accountability

The matter should not remain limited to Santosh Kanesh, the officer in charge of the licence branch, the report said. If irregularities are taking place in the licence process, the monitoring system of senior transport officials should also be examined so that responsibility can be fixed.

A comparison of trial records, application status, pass-fail details and documents related to the issuance of licences could help establish the actual position. Such a review would show whether the process followed the prescribed procedure in each case.

Questions have also been raised over the role of two private schools and one bus in the entire matter. The report asks what connection they have with the licence process, whether any special arrangement is being operated through them, or whether the matter involves something else.

The role of the two private schools and the bus has therefore also been described as requiring an impartial investigation.

Records Suggested for Investigation

In a special investigation by Shahar Crime, people connected with the office reportedly shared several complaints on the condition that their names would not be made public.

The report said senior officials of the Transport Department now need to take cognisance of the matter and order an impartial investigation. It suggested examining the CCTV recordings of the trials, the attendance register, applicants’ forms, examination results and records of licences issued.

These records could help determine whether the trials were conducted as required, whether applicants were present, how the results were recorded and whether the documents supporting licence issuance match the applications and examination outcomes.

The central question is whether the licence process at the Barwani RTO is being conducted entirely according to the rules or whether a separate system is operating behind the scenes. The report said the actual picture will become clear only after an investigation.