Meghalaya police yet to clear Rs 10.45 Cr against hiring of 156 private vehicles in 10 districts: RTI activist

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 11, 2024

Meghalaya police is yet to clear outstanding dues of a whooping Rs 10.45 crore against hiring of a total of 156 private vehicles in 10 districts of the state.

This was revealed by the RTI findings of Disparsing Rani, a resident of Upper Shillong, on Friday.

Currently, there are over 593 police vehicles (ML 02 registration) in the 10 districts of Khasi-Jaintia and Garo Hills region. Information is however yet to be received for Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills and Baghmara, South Garo Hills.

Addressing newsmen, Rani said East Khasi Hills police has the highest pending amount of Rs 5.92 crore to be cleared against the hiring of 74 private vehicles followed by West Garo Hills at Rs 1.58 crore against hiring 35 private vehicles, South West Khasi Hills police at Rs 21.5 lakh for 6 private vehicles, Eastern West Khasi Hills at Rs 7.93 lakh for 3 private vehicles, South West Garo Hills at Rs 32 lakh for  13 vehicles, North Garo Hills at Rs 98.66 lakh for 15 private vehicles and East Garo Hills at Rs 57.35 lakh for 10 private vehicles.

“However in three districts, the department has failed to provide information sought on the matter. While police of East Jaintia Hills mentioned that they cannot disclosed the number plates of the private vehicles citing that it is prohibited as per section 8 (g) of the RTI Act, 2005, they have only indicated that Rs 8.91 lakh is pending amount to be cleared to private vehicle owners and that the department is using 45 ML 02 vehicles. West Jaintia Hills also made similar excuses by not providing information on the number of vehicles hired by the department and indicated Rs 67.57 lakh as outstanding dues to be cleared. On the other hand, the department not only refused to disclose the numbers of hired private vehicles but also failed to provide information on the pending dues and the number of ML02 vehicles,” he said.

Furthermore, the RTI activist alleged that hiring of private vehicles by the Meghalaya police is “illegal” as per the section 66 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. “The Act clearly stated that you cannot hire vehicles, which are not registered as commercial vehicles,” he said.

Stating that the government is in the process of coming up with the Meghalaya Vehicles Act and Rules very soon, Rani however said, “The question is that the Meghalaya Vehicle Act or Rule this year, whether they will adopt section 66 or not. If not, then there will be a scam in Meghalaya as most of the vehicles hired by departments and companies are private vehicles. This is illegal.”

Referring to the report of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on irregularities in the practice of hiring private vehicles, the RTI activist said, “(The CVC report had) revealed that there is irregularities as only people with connection are getting bills while those with no connection don’t get their bills.

“I have received many complaints. Some people had to take away their vehicles due to failure to get bills. Therefore, the department has to follow rules and not based on friendship but tender should be floated (for such hiring of vehicles). As of now, those who know the people in power are given bills,” he stated.