Minister Ramalinga Reddy warned that strict action will be taken against officers if middlemen are found operating in government offices
Belagavi
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy warned that if middlemen are found operating inside government offices, especially RTOs, strict disciplinary action will be taken directly against the concerned officers. Responding to a question by Congress MLC Umashree during the Legislative Council session, he said several measures have already been implemented to bring discipline and transparency in RTO offices. All applications and receipts received in the office must be processed strictly in the prescribed format by the concerned officials. Supervisors have been instructed to verify files weekly, and conduct monthly desk inspections, with reports submitted to higher authorities as per the circular issued by the Transport Commissioner.
The minister stated that no office should allow the presence of intermediaries under any circumstances. If any middlemen are detected, officers of that particular office will be held responsible and penalised according to rules. To discourage the public from approaching intermediaries, signboards have been installed in RTO premises advising citizens to directly contact officials for their work. Information boards also display Lokayukta office details, including address and helpline numbers, enabling citizens to lodge complaints easily.
Reddy further highlighted that since November 1, 2021, as many as 52 services of the Transport Department have been made available online to curb middlemen and promote hassle-free services. He stressed that these reforms aim to ensure transparency and smooth functioning in government offices, ultimately reducing corruption and inconvenience to the public.
