| Auto-court, Payyannur, Kannur |
In the politically volatile land of Payyannur - where different drivers' unions with different political affiliations ply - one thing that all of them agree is that the petitions against fellow drivers should be settled in the auto-court being conducted by themselves.
When complaints against drivers started becoming quite common at social gatherings, the union leaders of CITU, INTUC and BMS started dialogue with their members. Finally they all agreed on the concept of an auto-court, although no one knew how it was to be run.
On January 28 last year, the court started functioning. There were three 'judges' belonging to the three unions in the panel. The court decreed that those who permitted more than 4 passengers per trip be banned from plying the vehicle or lending it out for three days. In case the culprit refused to obey the rule, he was to be thrown out of the union.
Although law breakers were quite common in the beginning, things started improving when it was understood by all that the judgements of the auto-court were here to be followed. For drunken driving, the punishment was ban for 6 months. And for indecent behaviour towards woman, the strong deterrent: lifelong ban. The court convenes to settle disputes every Saturday.
It was a headache for traffic police to control autos that used to crowd around railway gate. Auto-court intervened to order a day's ban on any one found indulging in cutting lanes and creating traffic jam.
Go to the Traffic Police of Payyannur with any complaint about auto drivers and you will be directed to approach the auto-court. Such is the acceptance of the self-regulation mechanism of the auto drivers of Payyannur
Courtesy:
T.Ajeesh, Sree, Malayala Manorama, December 2, 2007
Contributed by: Administrator
