What kind of driving test DTC drivers undergo: High Court asks Government

New Delhi, Mar 29:The Delhi High Court has asked the city government about the nature of tests DTC drivers have to undertake prior to being allowed to drive buses.

A bench of justices B D Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva sought an answer from the Delhi government on the "exact nature of test conducted by DSSSB" while hearing a plea alleging that many drivers of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) do not have valid driving licences.

"The government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) to file an affidavit indicating the kind of driving test conducted by the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB)," the court said and listed the matter for hearing on May 13.

Meanwhile, DTC informed the court that 91 of its drivers, who were earlier found to be colour blind, were at present not driving any of its vehicles.

The court, however, asked DTC to file a detailed status report on the issue before the next date of hearing. The court was hearing petitions by NGOs Azaad Dasta Sankalp Hamara and Nav Jagrity Manch alleging that many DTC drivers were unfit to drive as they were colour blind and several others did not have valid driving licences.

They alleged that most of the over 4000 DTC drivers recruited in 2007-08 were colour blind and sought their medical re-examination. They further alleged that of the 4,415 drivers recruited in 2008, over 850 were found to be medically unfit by the DTC medical board.

Thereafter, another medical board was constituted and about 56 candidates, who were earlier found unfit, were examined by Guru Nanak Eye Centre which had declared majority of them as fit, the petition had said.

The NGOs contended that most of the over 850 drivers, found medically unfit by DTC medical board, were suffering from eye defects, including colour blindness.

They also alleged that according to reports, several DTC drivers have been found to have fake driving licences and FIRs had been registered against several such persons.

PTI