Hyderabad: Doctors at the Medchal RTA office are issuing eye fitness certificates to candidates for Rs 50 without even conducting the tests. As per the RTA rule, it is mandatory to take an eye test to ensure that that one doesn’t suffer from vision problems like night blindness etc. when candidates come for a fresh driving license or for renewal.
The RTA has authorised a few doctors to carry out the tests. However, even without seeing the candidate, the medical certificate form 1A is being issued. Every day, at least 50 candidates approach the Road Transport Authority for licenses or renewals and they need not even visit the doctor as brokers do the job for them.
Dr G.V. Rao, a resident of Alwal who applied for a four-wheeler license renewal said, “At the Medchal RTA office, a retired MBBS doctor, not even an ophthalmologist, sits under a shed. This doctor, without any check up, is issuing fitness certificates with respect to power of vision, color blindness and other disorders of the eye. A sum of Rs 50 is collected from each candidates with no receipt. When I contacted the RTA helpdesk, they said that only this authorised doctor could do it.”
The Hyderabad Traffic department does not have any statistics on accidents caused due to visual impairment as it is presumed that the driver is fit as license has been issued by an authorised state agency. Accidents caused by drivers are booked under rash driving and negligence 278 IPC , 337 IPC — for causing injuries to somebody while driving and 304A — IPC in case of road deaths.
“We do not establish if the driver has eye sight or hearing impairments since the department presumes that proper eye tests have been done. So far, no checking has been done,” said a traffic cop.
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