The Motor Vehicle department’s (MVD) decision to restrict the number of driving tests on a day to 50 triggered a wave of protests across the State with by learners and driving school authorities. There was no official circular or government order to restrict the number of driving tests to 50, but an informal suggestion taken at an online meeting of the Regional Transport Officers (RTO) and Joint RTOs headed by Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar led to confusion.
On Thursday morning, thousands of learners who were given slots for tests gathered at the driving test venues across the State appear for the test. The MVD officials who reached the venue informed the candidates that only 50 would be allowed to take part in the test, triggering protests. In Malappuram, the police had to intervene to pacify the learners. Protests flared up at all the venues by 9 a.m., forcing the Minister to direct the officials to maintain the status quo until a formal decision is taken in this regard.
