Against the backdrop of increasing instances of crime against women on public transport, the Centre is likely to amend the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 to incorporate more stringent and punitive provisions.
At the same time, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has directed the stakeholders, including auto makers and State administrations, to curtail manufacturing of solar films and tinted-glasses for windows of vehicles. It has also planned for a pan-India implementation of Aadhar-linked Driving licence (Dl) and Registration Certificate (RC).
The Dl and RC will bear 'Aadhaar' number linked to the database of driving licences, in order to help the enforcement and prosecution agencies to save time to nab the offenders and perpetrators of such crime.
At present, about 11 crore RCs and three crore Dls are available in the National Register in digital mode. A full digitisation is expected to be completed by March 2015.
Minister of Road, Transport & Highways CP Joshi told The Pioneer that his top priority is to ensure safety of women while commuting. "The Ministry has been in communication with the State Governments during the past few months for taking immediate and effective measures to ensure safety of women," Joshi said.
A mandatory notification will be circulated for uniform design and specifications and development of a standardised enforcement module by the Ministry in consultation with the States and pan-India implementation of smart card type Dls and RCs.
Under the new rule, there will be provision for permanent cancellation of RCs and Dls of drivers, owners and individuals involved in crimes. Though the Act has penalties related to various crime and offences, nevertheless, crime against women especially on public transport do not have a mention in its list of offences.
The State Government is authorised to act upon but an amendment will provide enough powers to MoRTH to initiate penalty proceedings quickly. The MoRTH will use digitisation of 980 RTOs across the country as a tool to check such offences.
"There are enough powers vested by the various provisions of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The digitisation process of the entire transport offices will enable to act quickly. For instance, there may be provision where an individual, company or corporate may be blacklisted and nobody related (family members) to the offender will be ever issued a licence or permit to run a public transport," said a top MoRTH official.