DTC seeks one time relaxation to recruit 3000 drivers

New Delhi, May 4 (UNI) Facing a severe shortage of drivers, the Delhi Transport Corporation(DTC) today sought temporary relaxation in court directives in allowing it to recruit drivers who are 10th pass instead of 12th pass candidates.

Appearing in person before a bench of Justices T S Thakur and H R Malhotra, DTC Chairman Anshu Prakash said the public transport system would be paralysed for shortage of drivers, if the ruling of the court was not relaxed.

However, according to the DTC rules the drivers would have to be at least 10th pass.

Mr Prakash assisted, by his advocates, said there are at least 3000 vacancies for drivers in the DTC.

During the recruitment drive, the DTC received 3500 applications out of which only 12,00 were 12th pass.

The written test for the recruitment had been fixed for June 10.

A bench of Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice H R Malhotra last month had said, ''The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and State Transport Authority (STA) are directed to ensure that only higher secondary pass were appointed as drivers to drive a public transport bus.'' The Court directed the DTC to file submission in an affidavit by May 11, the next date of hearing.

The Judges indicated that the court might give one-time relaxation, but the authorities would have to abide by the rulings from next time.

UNI