RTA fine: Pvt school owners submit memo

Mahendragarh, September 22

The protest against ‘penalty’ being charged by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), Narnaul, from owners of more than 10-year-old diesel vehicles has gained momentum. Owners of private schools under the aegis of the Progressive Private School Owners Association (PPSOA) today submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through Narnaul SDM Suresh Kumar, demanding an end to the practice.

“We have not passed any order to the RTA for penalising the owners but there is a provision in the Act to fine those vehicle owners who get late in getting the fitness certificate,” Additional Transport Commissioner (ATC) Virender Lathar said.

About the fine receipt not given to the payers, Lathar said: “If anyone wants the receipt, he/she can obtain it from the cashier,” he added.

The ATC failed to respond when he was questioned about the vehicle owners’ fault for which they were being ‘penalised’.

Anil Kaushik, chief of the PPSOA, said they had demanded refund of the penalty charged by the RTA, besides a probe into the matter to ascertain on whose order the fine was being imposed. The state authority had stopped issuing the fitness certificate to more than 10-year-old diesel vehicles in 13 districts in December last year. Now, the authority has lifted the ban but started slapping a fine of Rs 50 per vehicle per month for the 8-month ban period. — TNS