In a number of locations across Kerala the place candidates had booked driving test slots for May 2, they failed to present up following the protests. (picture for illustration)
| Photo Credit: Okay. Ragesh
The Kerala government’s bid to switch to the revised driving test format hit a stumbling block on the primary day itself with driving colleges across the State boycotting tests en masse on May 2, forcing the Motor Vehicles division (MVD) to name off test proceedings for the day.
Driving colleges associations, together with unions affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), and the All Kerala Driving School Owners Association, who’ve been opposing the reforms, boycotted driving tests across Kerala on the day.
In Malappuram, members of a union affiliated to the CITU barricaded a floor, stopping entry of autos and candidates, in protest against the brand new reforms introduced in by the Kerala authorities.
In Kozhikode, union members protested against the choice by carrying black badges and denying entry to autos and candidates to a venue the place as many as 51 driving test candidates had booked slots for tests at Chevayur. However, nobody turned up for the tests within the wake of the protests.
In a number of locations across the State, together with at Muttathara in Thiruvananthapuram, the place candidates had booked slots for May 2, they failed to present up following the protests.
At different locations across Kerala the place folks reached the test venues, the protesters didn’t enable them to enter the test venues.
In Kasaragod, MVD authorities knowledgeable the candidates that driving tests had been suspended till May 24.
Will go forward with new format: Minister
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Okay.B. Ganesh Kumar informed the media that the State would go forward with the revised driving test format.
He stated the State has “no plans” to maintain talks with the protesters against the backdrop of the banner of revolt raised by associations of driving colleges.
The Minister additionally stated a new round can be issued quickly suggesting the adjustments proposed by the MVD within the driving tests.
Protesters defiant
On the opposite hand, upping the ante against the brand new reforms, associations of driving faculty homeowners made it clear that they’d boycott driving tests and learners’ tests till the order on reforms was withdrawn.
The MVD, in a round in February 2024, revamped the driving test format by introducing angular parking, parallel parking, zig-zag driving, and gradient test, which shall be performed on separate tracks, as a part of the bottom test. However, the division has determined not to implement all of the reforms steered within the revised test procedures as authorities are but to organize driving test venues for gentle autos wanted for the revised test format.
As a part of this, the division has determined to maintain a highway test first with some adjustments, and solely those that clear the highway test shall be allowed to take the bottom test.
Further, although the variety of candidates taking the driving test with a motorcar inspector (MVI) and an assistant motorcar inspector (AMVI) was restricted to 30 a day, it has been determined not to implement it strictly and to enable 60 candidates in the meanwhile. However, a round suggesting the adjustments was not issued, creating confusion amongst MVD officers.
As per the revised test format, within the class of ‘motorcycle with gear,’ solely autos with gear operated by foot and with engine capability above 95cc can be utilized for the driving test. Similarly, autos older than 15 years shall not be used for studying to drive or for licence tests beginning May 2. Applicants taking driving tests on autos with computerized gear or computerized transmission and electrical autos won’t be able to drive autos with guide gear. These autos also needs to not be used for driving tests below the LMV (gentle motor autos) class, as per the brand new reforms.