THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has made a diploma in automobile or mechanical engineering and a heavy driving license mandatory to be promoted to the post of Joint RTO in the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Biju Prabhakar, the secretary of the transport department, issued the order after considering the news published by Kerala Kaumudi on September 16 that the work of the motor vehicle department was at a standstill due to the lack of clear criteria for the promotion. The report said several co-workers in the department are fighting against each other as the government wasn't ready to change the current promotion system.

Usually, senior superintendents and vehicle inspectors in the office section were promoted to the post of Joint RTO. The report of the Ministry of Surface Transport said that office workers should not be employed in posts requiring technical knowledge. The special committee of the Supreme Court, which was set up to reduce road accidents, had also pointed this out.