Vehicle examiners above 55 years of age will not drive buses: DTC to HC

New Delhi, Dec 3: The Delhi Transport Corporation Wednesday told the high court here that it would not depute vehicle examiners above 55 years for driving duties.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw, taking into consideration the DTC's submission, disposed off a public interest litigation (PIL) filed against the state government and DTC.

The PIL sought directions for the state government and DTC to stop deputing vehicle examiners, who are mostly above 55 years of age and exempted from medical examination, as drivers.

DTC's counsel said: "As per the order passed by DTC, the services of vehicle examiners will not be used for driving purpose. However, their services will be utilised in CNG filling duties. They will not be deployed for online duty and their services will be used in depot."

The plea filed by Kamran Malik said most vehicle examiners beyond 55 years of age suffer from serious ailments and the DTC should be restrained from deploying them as drivers.

It said despite promoting drivers to the post of vehicle examiners, the DTC has been asking them to drive buses.

The vehicle examiner's job is not to drive buses on daily routes and therefore there was no requirement of medical or fitness examinations for them for continuing in service and their age of superannuation was 60 years, the plea said.

"Therefore, it is apparently risky to take driving duties from vehicle examiners who are generally beyond the age of 55 years and not subject to any medical or fitness tests," it added.

The plea said vehicle examiners were there for examination of vehicles being taken out of the depot and vehicles in the shedding depot.

Their duties are also related to the training of new drivers in the training school.

IANS