THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Motor Vehicle Department on Monday gave a 'gruelling test' for 15 vehicle inspectors for violating the Transport Commissioner's order and conducting up to 100 driving license tests a day. The official wanted to check whether it was possible to successfully conduct this many license tests a day. For this purpose, all the officials who were on duty the same day were summoned to Muttathara ground in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.

A driving license test took place here like any other day. Other officers including a camera system were appointed to monitor them. 98 applicants appeared for the test yesterday but only 18 passed. With this, the officials handed the assessment report to the minister pointing out the serious flaws that happened in the previous tests conducted.

Meanwhile, the sudden summoning of officials is also alleged to be the handiwork of Minister K B Ganesh Kumar, who had earlier proposed to reduce the daily driving license test to 30. The Transport Commissioner has ordered that an inspector should not conduct more than 60 driving tests in a day.

In a retort, the accused officials said the 100 tests were easily conducted due to the availability of two officials.

Allegations:

On Monday’s driving license test, unlike in normal times, more officials entered the vehicle and instilled a sense of fear, making candidates undergo difficult driving sessions. It is alleged that many women candidates failed the test out of fear. Owners of driving schools and candidates protested on the site. The test that started at 9 am ended only at 4 in the evening.