Mangaluru: After a video that went viral on social media showing traffic police checking an autorickshaw, which was reportedly ferrying a patient for dialysis from Kerala to a hospital in Deralakatte, commissioner of police Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH has issued a clarification stating that the auto driver violated permit regulations.“The driver himself has stated that the vehicle has Kerala registration. However, it is being used to carry passengers for hire. This is clearly a violation under motor vehicle rules. The presence of patients does not automatically permit conversion of a private vehicle into a commercial one. Law does not allow such usage,” Reddy said.Many have shared the video, in which the traffic police was seen checking the medical records of a patient travelling in the autorickshaw on Thursday, on social media.The commissioner said local auto drivers in Mangaluru city operate under strict regulations, having obtained permits at significant cost and complying with area restrictions of district magistrate notification. “Despite challenges, they continue to follow the rules, struggling for their livelihood. In this context, expecting enforcement agencies to ignore violations simply because the vehicle is from another state is neither fair nor practical,” he said.The ASI did his duty by checking the vehicle, informing the driver about the violation and applicable fine, and then choosing not to penalise on humanitarian grounds. “This shows discretion, not wrongdoing. He didn’t know there were patients before stopping the vehicle. If anyone wants to avoid inconvenience, solution is to comply with the rules. Compassionate consideration, if needed, should be requested respectfully, not demanded as a right. Hear the voice of all rule-abiding auto drivers of Mangaluru struggling to run in city areas before voicing in favour of illegal autos demanding concessions under compassionate grounds as a matter of right,” he said.
