Guwahati : The Assam assembly is planning to introduce from May 1 stricter guidelines for issuing car passes following detection of Congress legislator Rumi Nath’s alleged links with the kingpin of an auto theft racket.
The assembly authorities also cancelled all the car passes issued earlier.
The new guidelines for issuing car passes were finalised on Thursday after a police investigation revealed that Nath had recommended to the assembly authorities to issue a car pass to auto theft racket kingpin Anil Chauhan.
“All the passes issued earlier would be cancelled from today (Thursday) and the new ones will be issued from May 1,” Principal Secretary of Assam legislative assembly Gauranga Prasad Das said.
According to the new guidelines, ministers, parliamentary secretaries and legislators would be entitled to recommend for five general car passes for their family members, relatives or friends.
This is apart from the two VIP passes and government allotted vehicles, to which they are entitled.
Chief secretary, additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, commissioners and secretaries, principal secretaries, principal accounts general and accounts general, and directors of state government departments would be given one VIP car pass each.
Members of parliament, former-MPs, former legislators and the Guwahati mayor will also be entitled for one VIP pass each.
The stricter guidelines were decided at an all-party meeting in the assembly compound at Dispur.
“From May 1, vehicle registration certificate and driving licence of the driver will also have to be submitted along with the application seeking assembly car passes. These were not followed earlier,” a source said.
Sources said earlier more than five passes were issued based on recommendations of ministers, parliamentary secretaries or legislators.
Police investigation revealed that Nath had recommended for passes thrice for a car belonging to Chauhan between 2013-15.
Nath, the legislator from southern Assam’s Borkhola constituency, and her separated husband Jacky Jakir were arrested earlier this month for their alleged nexus with Chauhan.