In a 1st, teachers, clerks made transport officers

BROUGHT ON DEPUTATION, 22 OFFICIALS' PERFORMANCE TO BE MONITORED REGULARLY

- Vishal Rambani

CHANDIGARH: Schoolteachers, clerks and food and civil supplies officials were among 22 who were deputed by the Punjab government to serve as assistant transport officers (ATOs) on Monday. The move, according to the government, aims at curbing the "rampant corrupt activities" in the transport department, particularly at the field office level.

The decision comes in the wake of an ongoing investigation by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) that has unearthed widespread "irregularities" in issuance of driving licences besides in other transport-related services. Instances of bribes being paid to bypass mandatory driving tests and the use of proxies during tests have been reported across multiple districts.