- Bribe Fighter
- 12 years ago
- 2743 views
Rampant Corruption at the RTO
I visited the RTO office at Bhattarahalli, KR Puram (Bangalore) to renew my driving licence (DL). Having read and heard various reports that things had been streamlined at the RTO, I was looking forward to getting my job done without a hitch... Wishful thinking indeed.
I reached the office– armed with the form (Form 9) that I had downloaded and filled. At the reception surrounded by agents and driving school representatives, I enquired about DL renewal and was directed to the 'DL Office' on the 1st floor. The men seated there glanced at my form across the counter and said I had not got the 'envelope'. After asking several times, I realised they were referrring to a pre-stamped envelope that would be used to post my DL. I was told to go 'outside' and get it...Sure enough behind the RTO building were a large number of shops selling all 'RTO ware' in addition to the usual photocopying, lamination etc. I was asked if I needed a 'full-set'.
I noticed a gentleman at the shop filling a DL Renewal form for someone else and it included a medical certificate. I asked him if it was mandatory as the website mentions it is needed only for people above 40 years. He said it was and told me I could easily get it done. In the hurry to get the job done I now bought the form (Form 1-A) from them (another Rs5), which i could have picked up for free at the office or downloaded at home if the information on the website had been clear.
I decided to find out again at the 'DL Office'. They repeated the same information – that it is compulsory despite the fact that I have not yet turned 40. They further suggested that I go to the Government Hospital at KR Puram to have it done and return by 12.30pm (it was 11.30am now). I took a bus to KR Puram and went to the Govt Hospital.
Once inside I realised what a sham I was in for. I had prepared myself for a medical test (sight/colour blindness etc). Instead here was the doctor (Dr Shivaprasad) surrounded by patients while simultaneously signing several ration card and driving licence forms. I noticed the agents slipping a note or two to the attendant. As I stood in the group, the attendant tried nudging me to the corner saying he will get it signed. I refused and said I would do it myself. I had to then listen to some curses. It soon became evident that the Doctor (Dr Shivaprasad) had heard this exchange too as he chose to ignore me and my form! I waited a while, thinking atleast some of the patients would have themselves examined/treated. I should have known better. The doctor was merely reading the BP machine erroneously, pronouncing high BP for a gentlemen and doling out prescriptions. He finally took my form, asked me for my blood group, checked the boxes on auto-pilot mode and signed it. The attendant shooed me out of there and I left in a rush to reach the RTO on time.
Once again at the DL office I was told to pay the fee first at the cash counter.
There I found the cashier in cahoots with all the driving school agents, openly taking a commission for every form and taking several forms from one agent. (Why they couldnt have a separate day/queue for this i did not understand) . So when it was finally my turn after 30 minutes, the cashier went through my form and told me I had to go to the DL office first!.
Going up to the 1st floor, the man sitting behind an unlabelled counter went through my form. He told me there was no doctor's seal so how could he believe me (he had been there in the morning when I was directed by his colleagues to the KR Puram Hospital!). I asked him if he believed the 'test' done by the doctor. When I mentioned that perhaps because I had not paid the attendant the seal and stamp had been left out, he did not look too pleased. A hanger-on at the counter promptly advised me to give the attendant Rs 50 and get the job done as it was very important. Finally the man at the counter (Mr Siddaramaiah - in-charge of the RTO) told me that my license expires only in November so it was due for renewal only after that! (again the website or any notice in the office does not mention this bit of information at all). He even wrote that on the form and asked me to go home.
I have no ready solutions and I am sure there are others more experienced in this but I do have some thoughts...questions.
i) why is there absolutely no signage anywhere in the RTO's Office explaining the procedure for different categories of visitors?
…. Is it so complicated or difficult to put down? Or is it merely that the lack of stated information and resulting ambiguity allows for enough palm-greasing...from my experience today, that seems definitely more likely.
ii) Is it because people are not getting an adequate salary?
….Would increasing the fee structure help counter this culture of bribe?
I encountered the same lack of display of simple, detailed information about the procedure and rules at the Regional Passport Office too...Why
Why are things made more difficult for those of us who want to do so the right way, without paying a bribe?