Last Updated on March 18, 2021 at 11:45 am
Despite the government’s permission to some ITIs and Polytechnics colleges to issue driving licenses, mafia working in Transport Department, especially in offices of the RTOs across J&K, apparently wield more power than authorities.
Many people who wanted to get learner licenses failed to even book a slot for test because of an unholy nexus between officials of the RTO department and mafia. People are unable to book slots online even as authorities have allowed ITI and Polytechnics College Jammu to issue learners’ drive licenses. Currently, there is no slot available for Jammu district for the month of April and May. One can get a slot for learner licenses only in the month of June.
Sources said that this is allegedly happening because there is a nexus between mafia and some officials of the Transport Department. They also alleged that it is not possible for a common person to take test after waiting for four months without the support of mafia.
The J&K government has permitted the Skill development Department to issue driving licenses to people so that they can clear backlog. The government had to take this step as people were facing problems in getting driving licenses. It is a long process as there are some unnecessary loopholes in process of the Transport Department.
The government fully digitized the process of issuing driving license and changed norms a while back. It caused a breakdown of the system. Latest rules state that candidates have to first book an online slot and then go through the skill test to get driving license. Earlier, there was no provision of skill test for candidates in order to get a driving license.
The government has authorized 19 ITIs and Polytechnics across Jammu and Kashmir to issue Learner Driving Licenses.
