Chennai: A conductor has approached the Madras high court seeking to direct the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Villupuram to take action against a driver who is driving buses without renewing his driving license for the last six years. He has allegedly been taking advantage of his position as the regional secretary of Anna Trade Union of Villupuram district.
Justice T. Raja, before whom the petition filed by R. Anbuselvan came up for hearing, ordered notice to the TNSTC, Villupuram and posted further hearing of the case to October 26.
The petitioner’s counsel, R.Y. George Williams, submitted that Anbuselvan was working as a conductor in the TNSTC, Villupuram and he was serving as the secretary of the Anna Trade Union of Kallakurichi branch. One P. Natarajan was working as a driver in the same corporation but unfortunately by taking undue advantage of his position in the union, he was threatening officials and other employees. Officials were also afraid to resist his illegal activities, as he was claiming support of the ruling party, Willams added.
Williams further said that Anbuselvan came to know the validity period of the driving licence of Natarajan came to an end in 2011 itself. Anbuselvan's enquiries reveal that the driving licence of Natarajan, which was issued on March 6, 1984 had expired in 2011 but Natarajan, without taking any steps to renew his licence, was attending duty as driver, which was not only illegal but also amounts to putting the public in danger. Natarajan has crossed the age of 40 and has not chosen to renew his driving licence. Hence his driving license cannot be renewed automatically, unless he passes the test and proves his fitness by producing a medical certificate.
Unfortunately, the corporation also has failed to discharge its statutory duty and therefore, Anbuselvan gave a representation to the authorities to take action against Natarajan. Since there was no response, he filed a petition and this court had directed the Corporation to dispose of his representation.
However, on September 22, 2017, the corporation passed an order stating that action had been taken against two supervisors who failed to supervise the licence renewals and Natarajan has renewed his driving licence, which shows that Natarajan was driving the buses for the past six years without any valid licence.
Further, the corporation had passed another order dated August 25, 2017 stating that 31 drivers and conductors of the corporation have not renewed their licenses.
