Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has agreed with the position of the Joint RTO that intermediaries cannot be completely removed from Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) offices.
The decision comes after a vigilance raid caught intermediaries with cash at an office, which had triggered calls for disciplinary action against the RTO. The government, however, decided not to take action against the official.
The move follows sharp criticism over the settlement of irregularities in the MVD shortly before the Model Code of Conduct came into effect for the upcoming elections.
The Transport Commissioner had earlier prohibited the entry of intermediaries to prevent corruption and malpractice. However, those with a written consent from the applicants were permitted entry. During the vigilance check, intermediaries without such consent were caught carrying cash. While the vigilance report described this as a serious irregularity, the government cleared all pending cases in its final phase.
Reports indicate that more than 50 vigilance cases were settled within a week prior to the election announcement. Some of the officials caught with bribes were subsequently appointed to key positions, while investigations for others remain incomplete. A transfer list issued on a Sunday has also stirred controversy.