Serious irregularities came to light during a surprise inspection of the Bokaro district transport office by Jharkhand’s transport secretary, Rajiv Ranjan.
A surprise inspection by Jharkhand’s transport secretary, Rajiv Ranjan, has raised serious questions about the functioning of the district transport office. During the inspection, the district transport officer was found absent from the office, and several deficiencies in the office’s arrangements were uncovered.
Departmental negligence was also exposed in cases related to road accidents. Taking the matter seriously, the secretary directed that the DTO’s salary be withheld and sought clarification on all points within a week.
The secretary’s inspection report reached the district headquarters on June 2. According to the report, when the secretary arrived at the district transport office for the surprise inspection on May 23, the district transport officer, Maruti Minj, was not present in the office.
Upon inquiry, it was learned that she was on leave. No application related to her leave was found during the inspection. The secretary considered this a serious administrative lapse.
The condition of the office was also called into question during the inspection. The report mentions that the secretary had difficulty reaching the district transport office and could only locate it after asking people nearby. The building did not have a signboard for the district transport office. The inspection found the office building in a dilapidated condition, and the restroom on the premises was also in extremely poor condition.
One of the most serious objections from the inspection pertains to the room of clerk Ramanand. The secretary noted in his report that several outsiders were present in his room, who were found to be engaged in work related to the transport office. Considering this a serious irregularity, the secretary asked Deputy Commissioner Ajay Nath Jha to immediately seek an explanation from clerk Ramanand in the matter.
The report also mentions that the response received was not found satisfactory. Subsequently, Ramanand was issued a show-cause notice and instructed to face disciplinary action.
The secretary also expressed dissatisfaction with the departmental functioning in matters related to road accidents. In a case where three people, including the head of a family, died in a road accident in the Chandankiyari area, an investigation report was requested from the Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI), but the report could not be submitted by the time of the inspection.
The secretary directed that necessary action be taken to provide benefits under the hit-and-run compensation scheme to the children affected by the accident.
According to the report, accident investigation reports for other road accidents in the district were also not made available. The secretary stated in his letter that, as per rules, it is mandatory to investigate the accident, inspect the vehicle, take photographs, and prepare a report within the stipulated timeframe.
The absence of these reports not only affects departmental accountability but can also hinder the assistance provided to accident victims and other related processes.
The secretary’s inspection has raised serious questions about the administrative system, monitoring mechanism, and accountability of the district transport office. All eyes are now on the requested explanation. It will be important to see what action is taken on this matter, from the department to the district, after the stipulated one-week period.
