Inspection Report on the accounts of the Superintendent of Police, District for the period from June 2015 to March 2017

Dates of Audit: 24.04.2017 to 05.05.2017

Part I: Introduction a. Overview of the audit unit Maintaining Law and order and enforcing traffic rules / regulations is one of the main activities of Superintendent of Police in Tiruppur District (except Tiruppur City). Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur is also responsible for providing bandobust during VVIPs/VIPs visits, Temple festivals etc., b. Functional / Geographical Jurisdiction The functional / geographical jurisdiction of the Office of the Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur extends to the length and breadth of the Tiruppur District except Tiruppur City. c. Budget, Financial Performance The month wise expenditure of the office of Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur for the period from June 2015 to March 2017 is enclosed as Annexure 1 d. Overall hierarchy of the Audittee unit

The Audittee unit is headed by the Superintendent of Police who is an IPS officer, who is assisted by two Additional Superintendents of Police. There are five police sub divisions in Tiruppur District which consist of 23 Police Stations. In addition there are five All Women Police Stations and six exclusive Traffic Police Stations. The Police stations are the field units actually enforcing law and order / traffic rules and headed by Inspectors of Police. e. Scope of audit The compliance audit covering the period from June 2015 to March 2017 was conducted in the Office of the Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur in addition to detailed coverage on the subject matter viz., Traffic Management System in , and Tiruppur for the period from April 2014 to March 2017. f. Sampling Procedure and sample selected (including implementing units) Office of the Superintendent of Police is one of the three Audit units selected for detailed check. Records of 17 implementing units1 (being 50 percent of the entire strength of police stations) have been test checked during current Compliance Audit. g. Subject matter and criteria The subject matter selected is Traffic Management System in Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Madurai.

The main sources of audit criteria for the Compliance are the following:

i. Minutes of State Road Safety Council / District Road safety councils of selected districts / Inter departmental Committee meetings on Road Safety Fund at state level and in selected districts, ii. Records, tender documents and agreement entered with the supplier for the procurement of Road Safety equipment, iii. Orders, Circulars, instructions issued by the Government of , Director General of Police/State Traffic Planning Cell /Supreme Court’s Committee on Road Safety, iv. Reports of Road Accident Data Management System /Monthly Situation Analysis Report on Major Accidents / Reports of Inter departmental team to study Fatal Accidents in the State and districts selected. v. Records relating to distribution of funds for road safety at District Collectorates / Commissioners of Police / Superintendents of Police of selected districts and vi. Data relating to registration of new vehicles, fines collected by police authorities and cess collected by transport offices in the state / selected districts h. Conduct of Audit

The compliance audit has been conducted by the following party personnel under Section 13 of Comptroller and Auditor General’s (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Services) Act 1971 and as per the Auditing Standards issued by CAG of and in accordance with the provisions contained in Regulations of Audit & Accounts2007.

1. Shri. R. Sunder, AAO 2. Shri. G. Sivakumar, AAO

1Police Stations : 1., 2.Kunnathur, 3.Perumanallur, 4., 5.Mangalam,6. Udumalpet,7., 8., 9.Alangiam, 10.Kangayam and 11. All Traffic Police Stations: 1. Avinashi, 2. Perumanallur NH, 3. Palladam, 4. Udumalpet, 5, Dharapura and 6. Kangayam NH Part II: Audit Finding

Part IIA: Enclosed

Part IIB: Enclosed

Part III – Follow up on finding outstanding from previous Reports

OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE ,POLICE DEPT.,TIRUPPUR, TIRUPPUR DIST. IR CODE X19-030/15-16 Despatch No. 186 Issued on 10/07/2015 PARA SLNO. GIST NO. NON VERIFICATION OF KHAKI RATION CARDS ISSUED TO POLICE PERSONNEL PERIODICALLY EXCESS SUBSIDY 1 B01 AMOUNT PAID TO TNCSC LTD.,TIRUPPUR BRANCH - RESULT

Part IV – Best Practices

Good Practices or innovations noticed during the course of audit - Nil

Part V – Acknowledgement

a. Extent of audit units cooperation

Audit acknowledges the cooperation extended by the Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur district and his officers and staff in conduct of current compliance Audit. The cooperation extended by police personnel in producing the records relating to field units is appreciable.

b. Details of persons holding the leadership position in the audit unit:

Following officers held the charge of Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur District

Sl. Name of the Officer From To No. 1 Shri. Amit Kumar Singh, I.P.S., 04.09.2012 04.11.2015 2 Shri , M.R. Sibichakravarthy, I.P.S., (i/c) 04.11.2015 05.11.2015 3. Shri Saroj Kumar Thakur, I.P.S. 06.11.2015 31.07.2016 4. Smt. E.S. Uma, I.P.S., 31.07.2016 To date

Summary of Objections

Part IIA

1. Meager Sanctioned Strength of traffic police personnel and non filling up of existing vacancies. 2. Absence of traffic police personnel in consonance with increase in vehicular position in Tiruppur 3. Non availability of equipment / gadget for detecting traffic violations 4. Non imparting training to traffic police Personnel 5. Action against drunk driving 6. Non constitution of Inter Department Team 7. Vision and objective of Road Safety Policy 8. Road accident Data Management System 9. Non Conduct of Road Safety Audit and action plan 10. Regulation of peak hour traffic congestion 11. Non adoption of Traffic calming techniques 12. Offenders under Section 19 of MV Act 1988 13. Removal of black spots – reg 14. Third Party Insurance of Vehicles 15. Fitment of speed governors in transport vehicles 16. Regulation of traffic during school /colleges start and closing times 17. Screening of short films in theatres 18. Implementation of helmet laws 19. Non enforcement of traffic rules relating to possession of valid driving licence 20. Non Utilisation of Road Safety Fund

Part IIB

21. Delay in construction of District Police Office Building and Administrative Building for Armed Reserve Complex, Tiruppur District 22. Records relating to collection of spot fines – deficiencies noticed 23. Non refund of Government Money of Rs.80,918/- from the SB A/c by the bank authorities 24. Non disposal of condemned vehicle – Reg.

Para No.1 / Part II A Meager Sanctioned Strength of traffic police personnel and non filling up of existing vacancies.

The details of sanctioned strength and men in position of total number of police force and Traffic Police Personnel in the District (other than Tiruppur city) has been furnished in the following format: Total number of Police Force in Tiruppur District (other than Tiruppur City) 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Persons Persons Persons Designation Sanctioned Sanctioned Sanctioned in in in strength strength strength position position position SP 1 1 1 1 1 1 ADSP 2 2 2 2 2 2 DSP 8 8 8 8 8 8 Inspector 39 39 39 39 42 41 Sub Insp. 119 64 119 66 122 84 SSI / HC 174 300 174 298 185 299 Gr.I PC 204 212 204 224 220 191 Grade II PC 1155 713 1155 690 1258 725 Total 1702 1339 1702 1328 1838 1351 Traffic Police Personnel in Tiruppur District (other than Tiruppur City) 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Persons Persons Persons Designation Sanctioned Sanctioned Sanctioned in in in strength strength strength position position position Inspector 6 6 6 6 6 6 Sub Insp. 12 9 12 12 12 10 SSI / HC 18 11 18 7 18 13 Gr.I PC 18 14 18 14 18 13 Grade II PC 36 46 36 25 36 24 Total 90 86 90 64 90 66

From the above tables, it is evident that the men in position of traffic police personnel in the Tiruppur District has been deteriorating from 86 to 66 during 2014-17. While the sanctioned strength in other units have been increased by 136 1351-1339 during period 2014- 17, the sanctioned strength of traffic police personnel was static throughout the period. In all, the traffic police sanctioned strength and men in position constitute only 4.90 per cent of overall police strength in the District.

Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur may take immediate steps to fill up the vacant position in the Traffic police strength immediately and the results intimated to Audit. Para No. 2 / Part II A Absence of traffic police personnel in consonance with increase in vehicular position in Tiruppur

Audit noticed that the registration of vehicles in Tiruppur District has been increased many fold during the past three years as detailed below: Name of the Registering Authority RTO, Unit RTO, Unit RTO, Total Year Unit Office Tiruppur Office Tiruppur Office Tiruppur Registration Udumalpet North Palladam South Dharapuram of vehicles 2014-15 27861 9154 16935 4761 4549 8731 71,991 2015-16 26460 9680 18541 5091 5153 9811 74,736 2016-17 29433 9617 18561 4973 5113 10119 77,816 Total 83754 28451 54037 14825 14815 28661 2,24,543

From the above, it may be seen that on an average 74,850 vehicles are added to Tiruppur Roads every year during the period 2015-16 to 2017-18. In other words, 205 new vehicles are plunged in to Tiruppur district every day. In view of the huge increase in on road vehicular position every day, audit enquired about the availability prospective plan with SP, Tiruppur to increase the sanctioned strength of traffic police personnel in consonance with the increase in vehicular position. Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur, however, stated that no proposals have been sent to Director General of Police / Government in this regard. As the increase in vehicular position day after day is one of the essential elements for increase in accidents and consequential ensuring of road safety, SP, Tiruppur may arrange to prepare a plan for increasing the traffic police personnel for enforcement of traffic rules / orders and the results intimated to Audit.

Para No. 3 / Part II A Non availability of equipment / gadget for detecting traffic violations

From the monthly situation analysis report on major accidents for the period from 2014-15 to 2016-17 furnished by the Superintendent of Police to STPC , Audit noticed Accidents in most of the cases were attributed to over speeding /negligent driving / non adherence of rules by drivers by the District. Since the available manpower in traffic wing was less than the sanctioned strength, the traffic violations could be monitored and controlled by installing CCTV cameras at important traffic junctions. However, audit noticed that the district did not possess CCTV cameras for monitoring the vehicles in order to enforce traffic rules. Similarly, interceptors are vehicles equipped to monitor the speeding vehicles from a particular distance from its location on either side. Thus, the over speeding vehicles can be monitored through this equipment. However, no interceptors are available in the District. Wreckers (both two wheelers /four wheelers) are not only useful to tow the vehicles met in accidents in order to clear traffic jam immediately but also useful to tow two wheelers / four wheelers parked in no parking areas or obstructing smooth flow of vehicular traffic. However, the District police did not possess wreckers. SP, Tiruppur may analyse the requirement of procuring these vehicles under intimation to audit.

Para No.4 / Part II A Non imparting training to traffic police Personnel

Education is one of the important components (of 4 Es) of traffic management system. Since the traffic police personnel are directly involved in traffic regulation and enforcing traffic laws and orders of Government, it is necessary to educate the traffic police personnel through long term / short term training courses to handle the traffic system in an efficient manner thereby reducing traffic congestion, minimizing accidents and ensuring road safety. Supreme Court’s Committee on Road Safety has also directed in their various meetings that the States should educate their Police Personnel on Road Safety. Audit noticed that in Tiruppur District, though around 1400 police personnel were in position during the audit period, no police officer has been imparted training in the field of traffic regulation etc., SP, Tiruppur may explore possibilities of imparting training on traffic management to those actually involved in regulating traffic and managing traffic system. Suitable proposals may be sent to competent authority in this regard.

Para No. 5 / Part II A Action against drunk driving

Drunk driving is not only a social evil but also one of the challenges faced by all stake holders viz., passengers, pedestrians etc., Further, enforcement authorities particularly traffic police personnel need to be more cautious in registering the cases of drunk driving and proving the guilty of drivers. Section 19 of Motor Vehicles Act provides for suspension of driving licence up to the period of 6 months in first instance of drunk driving and cancellation of driving licence for habitual drunk and repeated offenders. The data on number of cases registered under drunk driving and number of cases recommended for suspension / cancellation in Tiruppur District during 2014-2017 are given below: Year No. of No. of cases Percentage of No. of No. of cases No. of cases sent to suspension cases in sent to cases in registered transport sent to RTO which transport which authorities for vis a vis total licence authorities for licence suspension of cases suspended cancellation of cancelled licence registered licence 2014 11670 242 2.07 172 47 6 2015 13906 285 2.04 189 22 13 2016 11440 204 1.78 153

From the above table, it is evident that the police authorities have sent only 1.78 percent to 2.07 percent of cases for suspension of driving licence. The reasons for not recommending suspension of licence for remaining cases were not produced to Audit. Even in respect of repeated offenders, only 6 cases out of 47 cases reported were cancelled in 2014 and 13 out of 22 licences were cancelled in 2015. SP, Tiruppur may arrange to liaise with transport department for speedy action for suspension / cancellation of licences of delinquent drivers. Further, Section185 of the Motor Vehicle Act 1988 provide that in case of driving a vehicle under the influence of drinks/ drugs even for the first offence, the police should prosecute the offender and seek imprisonment. However, out of 37016 cases registered under drunk driving during 2014-16 no offender was prosecuted under the above section and imprisoned.

Para No. 6 / Part II A Non constitution of Inter Department Team

Scrutiny of Road accidents data in Tiruppur District (other than Tiruppur City) for the period from 2013 to 2016 disclosed that the accidents including fatal accidents and fatalities have been increasing year after year as seen below:

Total Number of* Percentage of Percentage of fatal fatalities to No.of Year Non accidents to total Accidents Fatal Fatalities persons fatal total accidents injured accidents (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (5) (6) {(3)/(2)*100} {(4)/(2)*100} 2014 2090 568 627 1522 2298 27.17 30.00 2015 2394 624 692 1752 2989 26.05 28.90 2016 2577 723 776 1854 3196 28.06 30.11 2017* 612 150 161 462 806 24.51 26.31 *upto 30/04/2017 From the above, it may be seen that the District had not only witnessed increase in accidents year after year, the fatal accidents and fatalities have also increased in the same proportion during the period. With a view to adopt a holistic approach in each and every individual case of fatal accidents and to analyse the factors which could have contributed to the accidents, an Inter – Departmental Team of officers comprising Police, Transport and Highways departments has to constituted vide G.O. Ms. No. 1420, Home, (Transport) Dated 10.10.2007. The Inter – departmental Team shall visit the accident spot on the same or at the most the very next day, make a comprehensive study from different angles, prepare a detailed report after critically analyzing the data and offer specific information and suggest specific measures, preventive remedial and punitive that may have to be initiated to avert such incidents in future. It was, however, noticed that the inter departmental team required to be constituted to offer specific information and suggesting specific measure to prevent and remedial action has not been constituted in the district as a result neither spot verification on the accidental spot was done nor suggestion to minimize the accidents was made. The Superintendent of Police may immediately take steps to implement the aforesaid GO dated 10.10.2007 and arrange to constitute the Inter Departmental Team for adopting holistic view and to suggest avoiding recurrence of accidents in the same manner.

Para No. 7 / Part II A Vision and objective of Road Safety Policy in GO (2D) No.242 Home, Prohibition and Excise (Transport V) Department dated 13/04/2007 approved and published the Road Safety Policy with a main vision to stop and reverse the increasing trend in number of accidents, number of deaths and number of injuries through comprehensive measures covering engineering, enforcement, education and emergency care. Accordingly Government aimed to achieve a 20 percent reduction in fatalities and injuries by 2013, considering 2006 as the base year.

In the light of the Road Safety Policy of Government of Tamil Nadu, Audit scrutinized the records relating to road accidents in Tiruppur District (other than Tiruppur City) and noticed the following:

The data relating to accidents in the year 2006 and 2013-17 are as detailed below:

Total Number of Year No.of Persons Accidents Fatal Fatalities Non fatal Injured 2006 1605 406 421 1149 1498 2013 2060 571 625 1789 2488 2014 2090 568 627 1522 2298 2015 2394 642 692 1752 2989 2016 2577 723 776 1854 3196 2017 612 150 161 462 806

From the above table, it is evident that the District Police viz., traffic enforcement authority which is also one of the components for educating Police Personnel, drivers and other stake holders, could not stop and reverse the increasing trend in number of accidents, number of deaths and number of injuries through comprehensive measures. Thus the Government’s ultimate objective to achieve a 20 percent reduction in fatalities and injuries by 2013, considering 2006 as the base year could not be achieved in the District.

District Police Administration may take effective steps to implement the Road Safety Policy of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Para No. 8 / Part II A Road accident Data Management System **** Road Accident Data Management System (RADMS) was introduced with a primary objective to collect and analyze the data relating to road accidents with a view to identify various measures required for improving Road Safety. RADMS consists details of all fatal accidents occurred in the state, its nature, road conditions, place of accidents, nature and fault of driver involved in accidents etc., RADMS is updated on day to day basis by the jurisdictional police station in Tamil Nadu. In this regard audit noticed that though the very good tool to analyse different kinds of data is available under RADMS, the District Police Department, did not make use of the software by analyzing the data and thereby reducing accidents especially fatal accidents in the District. On being pointed out, Superintendent of Police assured that the data will be analysed in future.

Para No. 9 / Part II A Non Conduct of Road Safety Audit and action plan **** According to the decision of Committee on Road Safety constituted by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India communicated to the state of Tamil Nadu (March 2015) conduct of road safety audit is one of the vital step to be taken by the State Governments to ensure road safety and a measure to reduce road accidents. However, audit noticed that the Tiruppur District Police did not conduct road safety audit so far. In reply, SP, Tiruppur stated that the District Police had conducted Road Safety awareness programme in Schools and Colleges. Similarly, Committee on Road Safety (March 2015) also instructed the Police Department to prepare a Road Safety Action Plan indicating targets for reduction of accidents and fatalities. The District Police Tiruppur however did not prepare such Action Plan so far.

Para No. 10 / Part II A Regulation of peak hour traffic congestion

Peak hour traffic congestion is one of the hurdles faced by office goers, school / college students, vehicle drivers etc., Peak hour congestion is one of the reasons for traffic violations viz., over speeding, red light jumping resulting in accidents. Audit noticed that District Police, Tiruppur has not initiated special arrangement to handle and regulate peak hour traffic congestion. In reply the SP, Tiruppur stated that all the traffic police personnel are engaged on traffic duty and added that the services of Home Guards and Friends of Police were also utilized on traffic regulation. Audit however noticed that out of 7673 accidents occurred during January 2014 to April 2017, about 70 per cent accidents had occurred only during peak hours (i.e. 8 to 11 AM and 5 to 8 PM). This shows that peak hour traffic planning in Tiruppur District is not effective. Para No. 11/ Part II A Non adoption of Traffic calming techniques

Traffic calming techniques are one of the techniques adopted by police personnel not only to regulate /manage traffic but also to reduce road accidents. The techniques include provision of rumble strips, speed breakers, road signs etc at locations where accidents occur due to over speeding. In this regard, audit noticed that the Police Department did not assess and monitor the frequent accident locations especially in State Highways by adopting traffic calming techniques. In reply SP, Tiruppur stated that all Deputy Superintendents of Police / Inspectors have been instructed to adopt the calming techniques and monitor the frequent accident locations especially in State Highways.

Para No. 12 / Part II A Offenders under Section 19 of MV Act 1988 Suspension of the licence for a period of not less than three months is provided under Section 19 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 read with Rule 21 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 for the following offences: a. Driving at a speed exceeding the specified limit, b. Carrying overload in goods carriages and carrying persons in goods carriages, c. Using mobile phone while driving vehicle Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety (CoRS) viewed the above offences seriously in their letter no. F.No.05/2014/CoRS – Part III dated 18th August 2015 and directed the Chief Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu to take action forthwith on the offenders on the statutory cited. Audit however noticed that District Police, Tiruppur did not take any action against the offenders even though 26,303 cases had been registered during 2014-15 to 2016-17 as detailed below:

Nature of offence No. of cases registered No. of cases sent to transport authorities for suspension of licence 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Driving at a speed 3284 3153 2053 Nil Nil Nil exceeding the specified limit Carrying overload in goods 1484 814 836 Nil Nil Nil carriages and carrying persons in goods carriages Using mobile phone while 4300 4856 5523 Nil Nil Nil driving vehicle

Para No. 13 / Part II A Removal of black spots - reg.

Black spots are road locations that have a record of large numbers of road accidents. There are often common problems at these sites which can be treated with 4Es viz., Engineering, Enforcement, Education and Emergency care. In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of Government of Tamil Nadu in letter No. No: RW/NH-15017/109/2015-P&M (RSCE) Dated: 08 October 2015, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRT) stated that its Road Safety Cell identified 100 black spots in Tamil Nadu based on the analysis of data relating to fatal accidents occurred in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 and requested to take immediate steps to their correction / removal. In pursuance of the directions issued by Supreme Court Committee, Police Department nominated (September 2016) Dr. Geethakrishnan Ramadurai, an Associated Professor of Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT, Madras) to conduct a detailed study on Road accidents. The Committee identified black spots in ten2 most accident prone districts in Tamil Nadu. State Traffic planning Cell has also communicated (Aug.2016) 96 black spots in the District and instructed the SP, Tiruppur to coordinate with Transport, National, State Highways department in their respective jurisdiction and prepare a proposal to rectify the black spots. Though the SP, Tiruppur prepared long term and short term measures for rectification of Black Spots (Sept. 2016), no follow up action as of April 2017 was made to obtain funds from the Government to implement the measures proposed.

2 Kancheepuram, Chennai City, Villupuram, Vellore, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Krishnagiri, Salem, and Dindigul Para No. 14 / Part II A Third Party Insurance of Vehicles

Motor Vehicle Act 1988 provides for mandatory third party insurance cover for all vehicles in India. However, the reports of Insurance Regulatory Development Authority and General Insurance Council provided by Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety in their letter No. 56/2015/CoRS dated 27.12.2016 addressed to the Chief Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu disclosed that more than 50 per cent of the vehicles plying on roads in India are uninsured. The committee further stated that non insurance of vehicles cause hardship to the road accident victims in obtaining compensation that is due to the victims. In this regard though the District Police Tiruppur periodically checks the vehicles for availability of Insurance of vehicles, it did not take effective steps to detain the vehicles for obtaining third party insurance during the period 2014-17 as detailed below: No. of vehicles checked (for No. of vehicles found No. of Vehicles got rd No of vehicles detained Year all offences) without 3 party Ins. insured after detention Four Two Four Two Four Two Four Two Total Total Total Total Wheelers Wheelers Wheelers Wheelers Wheelers Wheelers Wheelers Wheelers 2014-15 12546 20869 33415 209 142 351 0 0 0 0 0 0 2015-16 27677 35908 63585 215 150 365 0 0 0 0 0 0 2016-17 51905 55883 107788 117 63 180 1 10 11 0 0 0

From the above table it is evident that though the District Police had identified 896 cases of vehicles plying without third party insurance, the Police authorities did not take effective steps for follow up action.

Para No. 15 / Part II A Fitment of speed governors in transport vehicles

Government of India in Notification issued in GSR No 290 E dated 15.04.2015 made it mandatory that all transport vehicles should be equipped or fitted with speed governor (Speed limiting device or speed limiting function) with effect from 1st October 2015. Government of Tamil Nadu has not enacted the GoI’s notification as of April 2017. In this regard, audit noticed that the District Police, Tiruppur had checked 171373 vehicles during the period for 2015-17 (from October 2015) and found that 3491 vehicles (represent the vehicles registered in other states and the states have enacted GoI’s aforesaid notification) were plying on the road without speed governors, the police authorities did not take action against the vehicle owner. As over speeding of vehicles is one of the major causes for fatal /non fatal accidents, SP Tiruppur may take up the matter with STPC / Government of Tamil Nadu for enactment of GoI notification with immediate effect.

Para No. 16 / Part II A Regulation of traffic during school /colleges start and closing times.

Regulation of road traffic system during school and colleges start and closing hours is one of the difficult tasks to be handled by the Police Department towards enforcing traffic rules as over speeding, red light jumping etc., occurs during this hours. On an query regarding possession of database of such important locations and mechanism available in police department for analyzing the requirement of police personnel for traffic management duty, it was stated by the SP, Tiruppur that there are 385 Educational Institutions available in Tiruppur District and during the peak hours all the educational institutions are provided with traffic police / Home guards / friends of police to provide for regulation of the traffic. Audit however noticed that 549 accidents had occurred during the period 2014-17 near Schools /Colleges. Of which 132 were fatal accidents. Further 566 persons were injured due to accidents on the spots near schools / Colleges. Thus, it is evident that the regulation of traffic during school / college timings was ineffective. The District Police may formulate effective measures to strengthen the traffic enforcement arrangements to reduce road accidents in particular fatal accidents.

Para No. 17 / Part II A Screening of short films in theaters Screening of short films in theaters for creating awareness on Road Safety is one of the directions issued by the Supreme Court’s Committee on Road Safety as early as in August 2015. Audit however noticed that no such film was screened in the District. In reply, SP, Tiruppur stated that all DSsP, Inspectors and Traffic Inspectors have been instructed to make a short film for creating awareness on Road safety and screen it in forthcoming period.

Para No.18 / Part II A Implementation of helmet laws

Audit noticed that while the State of Tamil Nadu introduced the helmet laws as early as on 2007, the application of the same was restricted to urban areas and they have not made it mandatory for the pillion riders. Audit noticed that the implementation of the helmet laws is not being monitored effectively in the district as a result the number of fatalities of two wheeler drivers / pillion riders is very high in the District. In this connection, the year wise cases registered for violating helmet orders and numbers of fatalities involving accidents of drivers / pillion riders without wearing helmets are given below: Year Driving /pillion riding without helmet Total number of Number of Total Number of Total amount of accidents fatalities violation detected fine collected involving two wheelers 2013-14 3929 312900 981 203 2014-15 16368 1397055 826 214 2015-16 64540 6141450 924 217 2016-17 42019 3396600 933 153

The District Police, Tiruupur may enforce the helmet laws in letter and spirit in order to reduce two wheeler accidents involving non wearing of helmets and resultant fatalities.

Para No.19 / Part II A Non enforcement of traffic rules relating to possession of valid driving licence Intercepting and checking vehicle drivers for ensuring that the drivers possess valid driving licence is one of the essential enforcement activity of the Police Personnel. Drivers who do not possess valid licence but met with accidents causes hardship to the road accident victims in obtaining compensation as driving of vehicles without valid licence is prohibited under Motor Vehicles Act. On a scrutiny of accidents data relating to Tiruppur District, audit noticed that out of 7061 accidents that occurred in the District, 1658 accidents (23.48 percent) were made by the drivers who did not possess driving licence at all. Out of 1658 accidents 448 were fatal accidents killing 504 persons. Further 285 accidents involved grievous injury to 260 persons. Audit further noticed that in respect of 68 accidents, the drivers licence had expired at the time of accidents. These accidents involved killing of 22 persons with grievous injuries to 6 persons.

Para No.20 / Part II A Non Utilisation of Road Safety Fund

According to Government of Tamil Nadu G.O Ms. 786 read with Home dated 20.07.2000 read with GO Ms No.1214 Home (Transport V) Department dated 09.11.2000, the Government have constituted a fund called ‘Tamil Nadu Road Safety Fund’ out of the receipts from spot fine and compounding fee collected in the State to finance road safety programmes. For the year 2014-15, the Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur submitted a proposal for Rs.149.10 lakh towards purchase / provision of automatic traffic signals (45 Nos), High mast lights (10Nos), Cut Road Speed Beakers (73 Nos.), Centre median (155 Nos), Cat eye lights (3080 Nos.), Trees reflective stickers (1090 Nos) and Cut Road – Cautionary blinker lights (34 Nos). However, the District Collector, Tiruppur allotted only Rs. 15.40 lakh towards purchase of 5 Nos. of Automatic signals with UPS, 1190 Nos of Tree Reflective Stickers and 20 Nos. of cautionary blinker lights and provided funds in December 2014. Though the funds for the year 2014-15 was released by District Collector, Tiruppur as early as in December 2014 and the work order for Automatic Traffic signals and cautionary blinker lights was issued by SP, Tiruppur in July 2015 to Ms. Selvi Agencies and the funds were released to the supplier in September 2015. The supplier has however not supplied and installed the equipments as of April 2017. During 2015-16, no funds were allotted to SP, Tiruppur from Road Safety Fund. In the year 2016-17, District Collector allotted Rs. 49.00 lakhs (November 2016) towards purchase of road safety equipment. However, no purchase of equipment was made in the office of the SP, Tiruppur as of April 2017 and the funds were kept in Savings Bank Account. Non utilization of Road Safety Funds was brought to the notice of SP, Tiruppur for corrective action.

Para No.21 / Part II B Delay in construction of District Police Office Building and Administrative Building for Armed Reserve Complex, Tiruppur District

The District Police office Tiruppur and the administrative office of Armed Reserve Tiruppur are functioning in a rented building. The monthly rent payable to these buildings is Rs. 3,91,329 (Rs.2,09,074 towards DPO, Tiruppur and Rs.1,82,255 for Armed reserve, Tiruppur) With a view to construct own buildings for the above offices, the Police Department engaged Housing Corporation at a total construction cost of Rs. 548.73 lakhs. Since the above work was deposit works, the entire amount was paid to TNPHC in 2013-14. In respect of construction of DPO, Tiruppur the PHC engaged M/s. Kongu Construction Contractors and handed over the site on 24.12.2014. The due date of completion of work was 11 months i.e. before 23.11.2015. Similarly the work order for construction of Administrative building for Armed Reserve Complex was awarded to Sri Kumaravelavan constructions and the site was handed over to the contractor on 25.08.2014. In this case the due date for completion of work was 24.06.2015. i.e., 10 months. Audit scrutiny of rent registers and construction files disclosed that the construction of the above buildings were not completed as of April 2017 and as a result both DPO, Tiruppur and Armed Reserve Administrative Office continue to function in rented buildings. Due to delay in construction of the buildings the Police department paid avoidable rent of Rs. 31,36,110/- for DPO (calculated from January 2016 to March 2017 at Rs. 209074 per month) and Rs. 38,27,355 (calculated from July 2015 to March 2017 at Rs. 182255 per month). In total, the District Police department had made avoidable payment of Rs. 69,63,465 as of March 2017. Audit also noticed that the occupation of these buildings by the District Police Offices in near future is not possible as only about 75 and 82 percent of the work of above buildings are completed as on date. TNPHC attributed the delay in construction due to shortage of skilled labourers, demonetization of legal tender, scarcity of getting river sand etc., The reply is not tenable as the delay was mainly attributable on the failure of contractor to engage skilled labourers and arrange for stocking sufficient quantity of sand for construction work. SP, Tiruppur may take immediate steps to coordinate with THPHC for completion of building works to avoid further payments on rent. In reply, the department has stated that compliance report from TNPHC will be sent shortly.

Para No.22/ Part II B

Records relating to collection of spot fines – deficiencies noticed

Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur controls five police sub divisions viz., Avinashi, Palladam, Udumalpet, Dharapram and Kangayam. 23 Police Stations are functioning in the above sub division. In addition, there are five All Women Police Stations and six All Traffic Police Stations functioning under the control of SP, Tiruppur. During current Compliance Audit, records relating to 17 units3 were test checked and the results of scrutiny are as follows: 1. Records relating to collection of spot fines viz., spot fine register, receipt books and remittance of spot fines into Government account are not produced by three Police stations / Traffic stations viz., a. Kangayam, b, Uthukuli and c. Perumannallur (Traffic) 2. Scrutiny of Komaralingam Police Station’s Spot Fine records disclosed that during the year 2016, the Police station remitted the spot fine collections to DPO, Tiruppur (SP office, Tiruppur) only for collections made on 21 days as detailed in the annexure 1. On an audit query in respect of non remittance of collections for remaining days, it was replied (orally) that the police personnel were not deputed for traffic duty in Komalalingam Police station on these days. However, no records were produced by the police station in respect of such absence of Police Personnel from traffic duty. This fact requires confirmation. 3. Similarly, Udumalpet Police Station remitted the spot fine into Government account only on four occasions for the period from June 2016 to October 2016 as detailed in the annexure 2. There was no explanation for non remittance of spot fines collected, other than those remitted into Government Account. 4. Incidentally audit also noticed that in a Secret / Confidential communication No. Rc.040996/IAW/2015 dated 08.10.2015, the office of the Director General of Police, Chennai has informed the Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur that during the course of

3 Police Stations : 1.Avinashi, 2.Kunnathur, 3.Perumanallur, 4.Palladam, 5.Mangalam,6. Udumalpet,7.Komaralingam, 8.Dharapuram, 9.Alangiam, 10.Kangayam and 11. Uthukuli All Traffic Police Stations: 1. Avinashi, 2. Perumanallur NH, 3. Palladam, 4. Udumalpet, 5, Dharapura and 6. Kangayam NH DGP office internal audit, it was noticed that the spot fines collected from the public in 25 Police Stations in Tiruppur District amounting to Rs. 9,26,195 for the period from 2012-15 have not been remitted into the Government account and was misappropriated. DGP, Chennai has also instructed to take action to recover the misappropriated amount and to initiate criminal and departmental action against the delinquents. In this regard, action taken in the office of the Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur for recovery of the misappropriated amount and details of criminal and departmental action taken against those officials who involved in the misappropriation was requisitioned by audit along with supporting documents which was not produced to Audit. In reply, the District Police Office stated that details would be collected from field units and results intimated to audit.

Para No.23/ Part II B

Non refund of Government Money of Rs.80,918/- from the SB A/c by the bank authorities

It was noted from the Cash records of the O/o the Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur, that a sum of Rs. 80,918/- was deducted from the savings bank account on 02.06.2016, which is operated by this office at SBI, Tiruppur branch bearing A/c No. 31033414979. In this connection, periodic correspondence has been made by the Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur District to the bank authorities for refund. No response is received from the bank authorities till date. This may be brought to the notice of higher authorities of the bank concerned and the appropriate cause for the deduction of amount from the savings bank account without intimation to the department by the bank authorities. The department in its reply has stated that the matter will be taken up with higher authorities of the bank and results intimated to audit.

Para No. 24 /Part II B Non disposal of condemned vehicle – Reg.

It was noticed from the Motor Transport records in the O/o the Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur, that 11 vehicle under varies types were ordered to be condemned by the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu (details below). No action was taken by M.V.M.D to auction the condemned vehicles even after a lapse of five years from the date of passing condemnation order resulting in detoriation of vehicles and causing loss to Government. In this connection, Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur has addressed Motor Vehicle Maintenance Department, Coimbatore at frequent interval. No response was received so far from Motor Vehicle Maintenance Department. This is brought to notice for pressurizing the concern department to take necessary action to dispose the condemned vehicles to make good the loss to Government and clear the vehicles. Action taken report may be furnished to audit. Sl.No. Vehicle Reg.No. Vehicle Type MVMD Proceedings No. 1. TN 38 G 0259 Enfield H1/15497/2013, Dated 04.02.2014. 2. TN 38 G 0282 Enfield H1/15497/2013, Dated 04.02.2014. 3. TN 38 G 0655 TVS Fiero H1/15497/2013, Dated 04.02.2014. 4. TN 38 G 0658 TVS Fiero H1/15497/2013, Dated 04.02.2014. 5. TN 33 G 0320 TVS Fiero H1/15497/2013, Dated 04.02.2014. 6. TN 33 G 0301 TVS Fiero H1/9731/2012, Dated 15.09.2012. 7. TN 33 G 0227 Tempo Traveller H1/5852/2013, Dated 16.08.2013. 8. TN 33 G 0228 Tempo Traveller H1/5852/2013, Dated 16.08.2013. 9. TN 38 G 0432 MM 540 Jeep H1/15497/2013, Dated 04.02.2014. 10. TN 33 G 0246 MM 540 Jeep H1/15497/2013, Dated 04.02.2014. 11. TN 38 G 0460 MM 540 Jeep H1/15497/2013, Dated 04.02.2014.

For Deputy Accountant General/GS