Autorickshaw drivers in the north Kerala town of Payyannur have been quietly making news through their “auto court”, a self-regulatory mechanism to end the woes of the travelling public as well as give themselves an image makeover.
According to U V Ramachandran, convener of the Auto Drivers Coordination Committee, the court enables a hassle-free journey for passengers and protects the interests of the drivers. “Our committee comprises workers of all unions, the CITU (pro-CPM), INTUC (Cong-affiliated) as well as BMS (BJP),” Mr Ramachandran who hails from the CITU wing, told Deccan Herald.
“No more fleecing of passengers, no more refusal to go to inconvenient destinations and no more unscrupulous behaviour,” he said. If any driver is found troubling passengers in any of these ways, the matter is referred to the court.
The auto court usually holds its sittings every Saturday with the complainants and the defendants, mainly auto drivers, rarely failing to turn up.
The common punishment for minor pitfalls like overcharging and refusal to drive to certain destinations is temporary suspension from operating service. Drunken driving invites a month’s suspension while drivers misbehaving with the passengers end up paying a heavy fine and get their license confiscated.
The self-regulatory mechanism has got the support of 1,500 auto drivers operating in the Payyannur municipal area where there are 1,050 registered autos.
Each driver is allotted an identity card and a number, which are easily recognisable by police and the Motor Vehicles Department. Though the auto court has no judicial powers, its orders are honoured and implemented by the auto drivers voluntarily.
“There were at least 50 complaints when we began this court two years ago. Today’s sitting had just two which speaks of the change that has come about,” said Mr Narayanan, another member of the committee. Payannur police have also confirmed that the number of comp`laints has come down.
The auto court at Payyannur is seen as a natural offshoot of the honesty for which Malabar’s autorickshaw drivers are known.
The autodrivers of Kozhikode were at one time famous for returning to the traveller even the barest minimum change as balance of a fare.
