Coimbatore : The 2019 Motor Vehicles Amendment.Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday during the ongoing Parliamentary Budget Session, with fierce debates over it. MP P.R Natarajan emphasized that all amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act ought to be withdrawn.
Coimbatore : The 2019 Motor Vehicles Amendment.Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday during the ongoing Parliamentary Budget Session, with fierce debates over it. MP P.R Natarajan emphasized that all amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act ought to be withdrawn.
MP P.R Natarajan said, "All the five amendments of the Motor Vehicles bill directly invade the powers of the State. Revenue from the State Governments, the state-owned transport corporations and the transport sector will be the worst-affected."
He also added that this would have a severe impact on the safety of employees working in the Transport Corporations and other Government Departments.
"Besides, these amendments will have a severe impact on access to transportation in rural areas. The State Transport Corporations are currently providing all these for no profit. A new section 211-A has been added. It is a system that the Central Government sets up on motor vehicles which imposes fees and taxes. This will invade not only the powers of the State but also the revenue of the State governments," he added.
P R Natarajan alleged that the reasons for delegating responsibility to an organization for collecting fares and taxes are not explained and the purpose of the proposed amendment is stated to be "for the benefit of the public."
"However, this can only be carried forward only by authorities under the State Department of Transport under the Motor Traffic Act of 1988. Therefore, the addition of a new section 211-A should be removed," reiterated P R Natarajan.
On Clause 91 which has another amendment proposed, P R Natarajan opined, "It is also encroaching on the rights of State-owned Transport Corporations. Under this section, the Federal Government empowers any public servant or individual to operate under this law. Giving powers to the individual in such an excessive manner is not only against the Constitution of India but also facilitates the extension of the noose within the structures of the Government. This is not in line with any Government policy. Thus, it is necessary to avoid entering into the systems of private government. For this purpose, I request the removal of sections 215-A, B and C."
In addition to this 29th, another new clause in the 66-A section is introduced. While citing this clause, the MP said "According to this clause, the federal government will create a unified national transport policy that will facilitate easy operation of interstate interchanges. It relaxes the rules for all public transit, including city taxi permitting methods."
Another new clause is introduced in section 88-A under Article 33 of the Act. He said, "It empowers the Central Government to develop plans for goods and passenger transport between the States. Besides, the current state of interstate transportation has also led to an easing of the permit system."
"In terms of inter-governmental agreements, the principle behind this legislation would have been the most reactionary step to section 20 of the Road Transport Corporation Act, 1950. Thereby, the Central government is taking over the powers of the state government to impose permits, taxes and tariffs to operate, regulate and regulate public transport services. This will have a direct impact on the transport services of the State Transport Corporations which are currently operating in villages, towns, highlands, long-suffering and oppressed areas in Tamil Nadu," stated MP P R Natarajan, claiming that these amendments would abolish the national policy of the State Government.
The MP further said, "Similarly, with the introduction of clause 18, the revenue collected through record keeping will no longer be taken by the dealers who make them. These dealers will probably issue the registration vehicles without having to inspect the vehicle directly. This would compromise on road safety aspects and cause a massive loss of revenue to the State Governments. All amendments brought by this bill should be withdrawn," he reiterated.
MP P.R Natarajan said, "All the five amendments of the Motor Vehicles bill directly invade the powers of the State. Revenue from the State Governments, the state-owned transport corporations and the transport sector will be the worst-affected."
He also added that this would have a severe impact on the safety of employees working in the Transport Corporations and other Government Departments.
"Besides, these amendments will have a severe impact on access to transportation in rural areas. The State Transport Corporations are currently providing all these for no profit. A new section 211-A has been added. It is a system that the Central Government sets up on motor vehicles which imposes fees and taxes. This will invade not only the powers of the State but also the revenue of the State governments," he added.
P R Natarajan alleged that the reasons for delegating responsibility to an organization for collecting fares and taxes are not explained and the purpose of the proposed amendment is stated to be "for the benefit of the public."
"However, this can only be carried forward only by authorities under the State Department of Transport under the Motor Traffic Act of 1988. Therefore, the addition of a new section 211-A should be removed," reiterated P R Natarajan.
On Clause 91 which has another amendment proposed, P R Natarajan opined, "It is also encroaching on the rights of State-owned Transport Corporations. Under this section, the Federal Government empowers any public servant or individual to operate under this law. Giving powers to the individual in such an excessive manner is not only against the Constitution of India but also facilitates the extension of the noose within the structures of the Government. This is not in line with any Government policy. Thus, it is necessary to avoid entering into the systems of private government. For this purpose, I request the removal of sections 215-A, B and C."
In addition to this 29th, another new clause in the 66-A section is introduced. While citing this clause, the MP said "According to this clause, the federal government will create a unified national transport policy that will facilitate easy operation of interstate interchanges. It relaxes the rules for all public transit, including city taxi permitting methods."
Another new clause is introduced in section 88-A under Article 33 of the Act. He said, "It empowers the Central Government to develop plans for goods and passenger transport between the States. Besides, the current state of interstate transportation has also led to an easing of the permit system."
"In terms of inter-governmental agreements, the principle behind this legislation would have been the most reactionary step to section 20 of the Road Transport Corporation Act, 1950. Thereby, the Central government is taking over the powers of the state government to impose permits, taxes and tariffs to operate, regulate and regulate public transport services. This will have a direct impact on the transport services of the State Transport Corporations which are currently operating in villages, towns, highlands, long-suffering and oppressed areas in Tamil Nadu," stated MP P R Natarajan, claiming that these amendments would abolish the national policy of the State Government.
The MP further said, "Similarly, with the introduction of clause 18, the revenue collected through record keeping will no longer be taken by the dealers who make them. These dealers will probably issue the registration vehicles without having to inspect the vehicle directly. This would compromise on road safety aspects and cause a massive loss of revenue to the State Governments. All amendments brought by this bill should be withdrawn," he reiterated.