Kerala auto driver’s suicide over vehicle fitness certificate, Minister seeks report

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 28 (IANS) Kerala Transport Minister C.P. John has sought a report from the Transport Commissioner Nagaraju Chakilam following the death by suicide of a 35-year-old auto-rickshaw driver in Malappuram, who had blamed the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) for allegedly obstructing his livelihood by repeatedly denying a fitness certificate for his vehicle.

Shoukath, a native of Mundamparamba in Kizhisseri, was found dead at his home on Thursday.

Shortly before his death, he had posted a lengthy message on Facebook alleging harassment and corruption within the MVD and holding the department responsible for his death.

Shoukath alleged that he had been denied a fitness certificate because he chose to approach the Kondotty Sub-Regional Transport Office directly rather than through an agent.

According to his social media post, he had spent nearly 10 months visiting MVD offices and agents seeking fitness for his auto.

Unable to operate the vehicle, which he said was his sole means of livelihood, Shoukath claimed that he fell into serious financial difficulties and defaulted on the loan taken for the vehicle.

He said his credit score had fallen from 820 to 600 as a result.

“My death is solely the responsibility of the Kerala Motor Vehicles Department. They destroyed my means of livelihood for the sole reason that I did not pay a bribe,” he alleged in the social media post.

Shoukath also expressed apprehension that any investigation into his death could allow officials to escape accountability by claiming that his vehicle was unfit because of modifications involving steel work.

He said that the same MVD had allegedly issued fitness certificates for the vehicle on two earlier occasions.

His most serious allegation was directed at what he described as the agent system within the MVD.

He claimed that the agent system was the main source of corruption in the department and said that eliminating it could end a large part of the alleged corruption.

Appealing for intervention by senior government authorities and the High Court, Shoukath also urged people to use the Right to Information Act to fight corruption and understand how government systems function.

The allegations have triggered protests among motor workers’ organisations and local residents, who have demanded strict action against officials if the allegations are found to be true and called for the agent system to be abolished.

Police have begun an investigation into the death.

The Transport Minister’s decision to seek a report is the first official response from the government to the allegations.

The incident has brought renewed scrutiny on the functioning of the state’s vehicle-testing and certification system, particularly the role allegedly played by intermediaries in dealings between vehicle owners and MVD offices.

–IANS

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