I, on behalf of the auto rickshaw passengers in Dimapur would like to seek clarification/rejoinders published in the local dailies on May 14th and May 15th from both the DDADU and RTA respectively. The auto drivers have never ever been complied with the rules and regulation given by RTA with effect from 19th Feb.1988 fixing on seating capacity of auto rickshaw. The DDADU is threatening to strike but we the passengers alone will not suffered. Many of the drivers will also suffer the same. The RTA clearly knows for not complying the orders by auto drivers under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. The matter on revision for auto fare was discussed at length with the DDADU but both the RTA and DDADU are ignored the rights of the auto rickshaw passengers in Dimapur. (Please refer to Grievances of Auto Rickshaw Passengers dated the 24th Jan ’17 and 11th April ’17 page 6 on Nagaland post and Eastern Mirror respectively in detailed) I have filed an R.T.I. application under the R.T.I. Act 2005 because there was always argument on the street between the passenger and the driver which lead to confrontation and creating unpleasant environment on the street. It is because of the extra fare charges by the driver above the prescribe rate, in short …
1. Extra passenger fare:- The auto fare is randomly charged by the driver. It is triple in the night time services from the actual rate prescribed by the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur. Why?
2. Over load Passenger :-For line passenger the drivers force to accommodate four passenger on the back seat and two or three in the front, total passengers always not less than 6 (Six) (passengers) of RE 2 stroke made by Bajaj company and alike but it is actually 3 (three) passenger seat. When the passengers protest, the driver refused to go on. When we have an emergency it touches the battery. This is a kind of mental harassment. This extra fare charges by the driver and overload passenger is facing the problem everyday by the passengers in this commercial hot Dimapur.
3. Excessive Hire Charge :- It is like this, (a)parking No.6 to parking No.10=Rs.35/- (b) Parking No.10, to Toulazouma Rs.70/- i.e a+b=Rs105/- They should not charge more than Rs.105/- but they charge Rs.200/-. I have lost Rs.95/- per hired. For you it doesn’t matter, but it matters to me.
4. Documents:- Most of the auto rickshaw driver has no valid documents. There is no insurance policy and if the occupant died or injure in an accident the owner of the vehicle force to compromise with small amount to compensate the victim. Is it a life that has worth of these much amount? When they were caught without valid documents the driver has to pay some amount to the Police Officer for compromise, but unfortunately when accident take place life and death cannot compromised, police are taken fine for compromising with the driver in lieu of the seized vehicle/arrest during MV checking.
5. Uniform and prescribed Rate:- The present Deputy Commissioner is the Chairman of the RTA Dimapur in his order it is written, “All the Auto Rickshaw Drivers are hereby directed to display a copy of the revised fare chart in their vehicle for public convenience. It is the fact that none of the auto rickshaw driver display fare chart on their vehicle. Also the auto drivers are directed to wear their uniform unless the passengers should not pay the fare to the commuters with effect from 1st August 2016, this has been shifted the burden from the RTA to drivers and passengers and the Dy. Commissioner traffic Dimapur issued the identity of the driver which has been paste on the back side of the Driver is maintain by very few, Again it is written “For school students in uniform there will be a concession of 15% and for physically challenged persons, there will be a concession of 25% from the actual fare. Non-compliance of the order will be strictly dealt with as per the provision of the law “I was never witnessed any of the driver given concession to this reservation. Why the administrative dept. is so weak in Dimapur for administration of justice? Why the Deputy Commissioner Dimapur does not follow his order for public protection and let the passenger suffered. The present existing system is only in letters not in spirit, you are the leaders who should walk the talk.
Whether there was any body found violation of this law or not, If yes how many of them been penalized so far? If not! Why?
Why the competent authority concerned only for the driver and ignored the rights of the common passengers. Every day the passengers are losing lakh of rupees, for which I sent through a redg. post no.458361746 IN on 11/4/17 address to Chairman RTA requesting for rejoinder to my article on the above SL.No.1 to 5 is still silent till today. Until and unless the RTA enforces his orders to penalize the defaulters by the competent authority, it is unfaithful and unreasonable/unstable Government authority but the servant of other organisation.”If the government is protecting our welfare, it is our responsibility to co-operate with the government, but it is equally our responsibility to non-cooperate with them if they are not protecting our welfare.”M.K.Gandhi. I advice to all the passengers to pay the exact fare of the prescribed rate fixed by the competent authority (RTA). I once again said that the drivers are not complied with the orders but we the passengers are following the orders. Once I discussed with one of the auto drivers that the RTA orders said, the total number of passengers of an auto rickshaw will be strictly (3) persons only, he told me that this is our auto rickshaw not belong to RTA or D.C so it is our freedom to pick up for how many passengers are willing to go with us. In reply I told him the world is ruling by some certain law of the land, rules and regulations under the competent authority. Any casualty in auto rickshaw related matters between the passengers and the drivers will be held responsible by the competent authority (RTA).
Pfukrulhi Khupfuh
akrukhupfuh@gmail.com
