Hathras drivers allege arbitrary challans, bribe demands during overloading crackdown

Questions have been raised over the Transport Department’s action against overloading in Hathras after farmers and vehicle drivers reached the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) office on Sunday and accused the departmental team of arbitrary action. They also alleged that money was demanded from them to help them avoid challans.

The drivers said they had no objection to action being taken against overloading according to the rules. However, they questioned why challans related to driving licences and fitness certificates were issued even when, according to them, they had valid documents.

According to the complainants, challans ranging from Rs 31,500 to Rs 47,250 were issued for different vehicles. In the cases that have come to light, the total amount mentioned in the challans is more than one lakh rupees.

The allegations have been denied by ARTO Lakshman Prasad. He said action had been taken according to the rules in cases of overloading and described the allegations made by the vehicle drivers as incorrect.

Driver carrying government panjiri alleges demand for Rs 25,000

Vehicle driver Saurabh Kumar said he was carrying government panjiri from Hathras Junction for anganwadi centres. He said the Transport Department team stopped his vehicle on the way, citing overloading.

Saurabh alleged that a challan related to his driving licence was also issued even though he had a valid driving licence. He claimed that a constable accompanying the team had demanded Rs 25,000 from him.

He said that later, a challan of Rs 33,000 was issued for his vehicle. His allegation is that the demand for money was made while the team was dealing with the overloading case.

Driver says vehicle was weighed at a weighbridge

Driver Sachin Kumar said his vehicle was overloaded and that the departmental team had also got it weighed at a weighbridge. However, he alleged that a person accompanying the team offered to settle the matter for Rs 25,000.

According to Sachin, he expressed his inability to pay the money. He said the vehicle was then brought to the office and a challan of Rs 33,000 was issued.

Sachin also alleged that a Rs 5,000 challan related to his driving licence was issued despite the fact that he had a valid driving licence. His complaint therefore covers both the overloading action and the separate action linked to the licence.

Extra challan alleged despite valid fitness certificate

Vehicle driver Satyendra Singh said he was carrying paddy and that around 160 quintals of paddy had been loaded in his vehicle. He accepted that the vehicle was overloaded and said he was ready to pay the fine applicable under the rules.

However, Satyendra alleged that an additional challan of Rs 5,000 was issued even though the vehicle’s fitness certificate was valid for one year. He questioned the basis for taking action related to fitness when, according to him, the certificate was still valid.

Satyendra said his vehicle had been standing since Saturday evening. He said he was facing difficulty in getting the vehicle released after depositing the challan amount.

He also expressed apprehension that if the paddy deteriorated, the farmer could suffer a loss of up to around Rs four lakh. This is Satyendra’s estimate of the possible loss.

Khalid alleges demand for Rs 30,000

Driver Khalid, a resident of Bulandshahr, said he was carrying steel rods from Kailora to Agra. His vehicle was challaned for Rs 47,250 on the allegation of overloading.

Khalid said he had a valid licence to drive a heavy vehicle. Despite this, he alleged that a challan related to his licence was also issued.

He accused an employee accompanying the departmental team of demanding Rs 30,000. The allegation has not been independently confirmed.

Farmer Pankaj Kumar also complained that a challan of Rs 31,500 had been issued. He alleged that action was taken without giving him an opportunity to show his driving licence.

Questions over basis of challans and documents

Following the complaints by the vehicle drivers and the farmer, questions have been raised about the basis of the action and the allegations that money was demanded. The complainants have asked why challans related to licences and fitness certificates were issued if their documents were valid.

They have also demanded an inquiry into the identity and role of the people who allegedly asked them for money. The complaints include allegations against a constable, a person accompanying the team and an employee who was present with the departmental team.

The copies of the challans, the documents of the vehicles and the evidence connected with the departmental action will be important in examining the matter. These records can establish whether the challans were issued according to the rules or whether any irregularity took place at some level.

The complaints also raise the question of whether separate licence and fitness-related challans were justified in the cases where the drivers claim to have possessed valid documents. The actual details recorded in the challans and the documents submitted by the vehicle owners and drivers will be relevant to determining the position.

ARTO rejects the allegations

ARTO Lakshman Prasad has rejected the allegations made by the vehicle drivers. He said challans in overloading cases had been issued according to the rules.

At present, the allegations of demanding bribes and issuing incorrect challans despite valid documents have not been independently confirmed. The actual status of the challans, the related vehicle documents and the complaints will have to be examined before the facts of the case become clear.