In
India
But
a Karnataka Minister - Anand Vasant Asnotikar, elected from Karwar, Uttara
Kannada overdid and went for a overdrive landing himself into trouble !!!!!!
Vehicles
are driven by Driver. A Drier is a
person who is at the steering and should hold a valid driving licence, other
than a learner’s licence – a licence authorized to drive the vehicle of the
specified class or description. Thus a
DL for a Motor cycle will not be valid for driving a Light Motor Vehicle. Section
3 of MV Act 1988 read with the Insurance Policy Conditions stipulates that a
person is required to possess an effective driving licence to drive a vehicle
in public
place.
There are some primary requirements for
the licence to be effective. It has to
be valid for that period and it should be effective for that particular class
of vehicle that is being driven. There are different categories of vehicles such
as Auto gears, vehicles with gears, LMV,
Medium goods vehicles, Medium passenger vehicle, Heavy goods vehicle, Heavy
Passenger Motor vehicle and the like. The Motor Vehicles Act defines Transport
Vehicle as a Public service vehicle, a goods carriage, an educational
institutional Bus or a private service
vehicle. This is no post on the
class of vehicles or the validity of Driving Licence for such type of vehicles. There is also a requirement of Badge for
drivers of Public Service vehicles. I
think that the MV act does not make it mandatory for a badge nor does the
Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989 provide for the requirement of one – however Sec
28 (2) (d) empowers the State Govt to make rules regarding issuance and
possession of Badges. The State Govt can
impose stipulation on badges as also uniform to be worn by drivers of transport
vehicles.
In
the ancient site of sea trade – Karwar in Uttara Kannada on the banks of Kali
river on the west coast of India, a mishap was averted but not embarrassment on 27th Feb 12 when Karnataka Fisheries
and Science & Technology minister Anand Asnotikar lost control of a state
transport bus and damaged a goods rickshaw. The driver escaped unhurt. Obvious the Minsiter did not have a licence to
drive a heavy vehicle nor had the practice to steer the vehicle safely.
The
Minister was at Karwar bus stand to inaugurate two new KSRTC services, one to
Hassan and another to Manipal. After the puja, the buses were taken out of the
bus stand by their drivers. When they returned to the bus stand, the minister’s
followers egged him on to inaugurate the buses in style. Initially, Asnotikar
was reluctant, but later he bowed to their requests and asked the driver of one
bus to allow him to drive. Senior KSRTC officials were mute spectators to the
overdrive. A bus packed by media and
supporters, Asnotikar tried taking
control by changing gears, could not control the speed, pedestrians ran
helter-skelter and vehicle came to a halt after hitting a goods auto. Though none was injured, the incident threw
open too many uncomfortable questions as also the practical wisdom of the
celebrity in trying to drive a vehicle.
It
was later stated that the Minister offered to compensate the damaged auto. Police officers said they would not book a
case against the minister as he had struck a compromise with the rickshaw
driver.
Mr
Anand Vasanth Asnotikar is a Graduate and
is an industrialist, interested in social service also. He had tried to assuage the feelings of those
in Coastal districts who were complaining of apathy of the Govt in not
operating enough buses in coastal districts.
He was trying to launch KSRTC Volvo buses from Karwar and had also promised more bus services between Udupi Mangalore and Kasargod. He also assured putting up a Regional transport
office at Udupi.
Though
the incident was not major, the circumstances leading to the accident raises
uncomfortable questions on safety aspects being ignored by celebrities
With
regards – S. Sampathkumar .
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