In a significant development, the High Court has declined to quash an FIR registered against officials of the ARTO Office, Anantnag, who are accused of being involved in the issuance of fake registration certificates, fitness certificates, and driving licenses in exchange for bribes.
The petitioners—officials of the ARTO office—had approached the court seeking the quashing of FIR No. 04/2021, registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act at the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Police Station, South Kashmir, Anantnag.
The FIR stems from a Joint Surprise Check (JSC) carried out by the ACB, which uncovered serious allegations of corruption and misconduct. It was alleged that touts and agents were operating in nexus with officials inside the ARTO Office, facilitating the issuance of documents such as registration and fitness certificates for heavy vehicles, and driving licenses—all in exchange for illegal monetary consideration.
During the surprise check conducted on the day of a driving trial test, investigators found that many of the application forms for driving licenses had codes written in pencil, which were later decoded as abbreviations of touts’ names. These touts were allegedly coordinating with Board members of the ARTO to influence test outcomes and administrative processes.
Further inquiry revealed that several applicants admitted to paying bribes via touts/agents, directly implicating members of the ARTO Board in facilitating illegal issuance of licenses. The investigation also highlighted that vehicle fitness tests and driving trials were being rushed, merely to accommodate candidates backed by agents.
The FIR accuses the officials of forming a well-knit conspiracy, abusing their official positions for pecuniary benefits, and providing undue favors to unqualified individuals and agents.
In his order, Justice Sanjay Dhar observed:
“From the stage of registration of FIR up to the filing of the final report, it is the exclusive domain of the investigating agency to carry out the probe without judicial interference. It is within their jurisdiction to differ from the opinion of the previous investigating officer and initiate a fresh investigation in accordance with the law.”
With the court’s dismissal of the petition, the Anti-Corruption Bureau is now expected to intensify its investigation into the alleged malpractices at the ARTO Office, Anantnag.
