Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Rules 1996 ( Chapter 14 Use of Vehicles)

 Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Rules 1996

304. Number plates. – (1) All vehicles of the Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads shall, in addition to the number plate, exhibit plates in the front and at the rear indicating the name of the Panchayat Samiti or the Zila Parishad to which they have been allotted.

(2) The registered number of the vehicles shall be painted clearly and distinctly on all types of vehicles.

305. Record of vehicles. – In respect of each vehicle under his control, the Controlling Officer shall be responsible for the maintenance of:-

(a) a log book in Form No. XLI

(b) a register in Form No. XLII shows the cost of petrol or diesel oil etc., consumed and other incidental receipts and expenditures; and

(c) an inventory of equipment in Form No. XLIII.

306. Precautions in respect of the consumption of Petrol/ Diesel/ Oil. – (1) The petrol, diesel, or power line tanks of vehicles shall be fitted with locks and the keys thereof shall be kept in the possession of the Controlling officer or any Officer authorized by him who should be present when petrol, diesel or power line is put in the tank.

(2) The logbook shall be examined and signed by a responsible officer at the close of each month showing the total fuel and oil consumed during the month, the total distance covered and the average kilometers per liter of fuel or oil consumed. It shall then be put up to the Controlling Officer, who shall examine and satisfy himself that the average consumption of fuel and oil is reasonable, and countersign it. If the consumption of fuel or oil is high, he will take immediate steps to look into the causes and take suitable steps.

307. Inspection of inventory. – The inventory shall be checked by the Controlling Officer or by a responsible officer deputed by him for the purpose every six months and any loss arising out of negligence or default shall be recovered from the person concerned. A report of inspection shall be prepared and kept on record. If the inspection is carried out by an officer other than the Controlling Officer, the report shall be placed immediately after inspection before the Controlling Officer.

308. Testing and servicing of Vehicles. – (1) The Controlling Officer shall have each vehicle tested every month regarding fitness for journeys and place a report on record.

(2) He will also submit a half-yearly report, to the Panchayat Samiti or the Zila Parishad, as the case may be, about the kilometers run and the expenditure incurred on the maintenance of each vehicle.

(3) Each vehicle shall be serviced and lubricated after it has run for 1500 kilometers.

(4) The place where the vehicle shall be taken for service or lubrication or repair shall be decided by the concerned Standing Committee of the Panchayat Samiti or the Zila Parishad as the case may be, by a resolution.

309. Handing over on vacation of office. – In the event of the Controlling Officer vacating the office, the vehicles shall be handed over to his successor with complete equipment, spare parts, spare wheels, tires, and tools, and with the record referred to in Rule 305. The certificate of handing over and taking over shall be prepared and signed by the relieved and relieving authorities on each of the three records given in Rule 305.

310. Meters. – Each vehicle shall be fitted with a meter and, in the case of tractors, with an hour meter. It shall be the responsibility of the Controlling officer to see that the meters are kept in proper working order. As soon as a meter falls out of order, steps should be taken to get it repaired or replaced as the case may be. The Controlling Officer shall ensure that the meter is not tampered with.

311. Entry in the logbook. – (1) The person using the vehicle shall note in the log book in his own hand, the meter reading at the start and after each journey. He shall also indicate whether the journey undertaken was on official duty and if so the purpose of the journey shall be briefly recorded. It shall not be enough merely to state that the journey was official.

(2) When more than one officer travels together in a vehicle, the senior-most officer will make entries in the log book.

(3) If any officer fails or refuses to indicate the particulars of the journey undertaken by him, this fact should be reported immediately by the driver of the vehicle to the Controlling Officer.

312. Insurance. – All vehicles shall be insured against third-party risk with State Insurance Department or a registered insurance company.

313. Restrictions on the use of vehicles. – (1) The vehicles are intended for use of bonafide, official duty within the jurisdiction of the Panchayat Samiti or the Zila Parishad, as the case may be. Vehicles shall not be used for journeys outside the jurisdiction of the Panchayat Samiti or the Zila Parishad, as the case may be, without the previous sanction of the Director, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj except that they may be taken for repairs or servicing to the places duly approved under Sub-rule (4) of Rule 308. The Panchayat Samiti vehicles may also be used for attending meetings at district headquarters, dropping district Level Officers, the Pramukh, and Headquarters Officers of the Development Department to the neighboring block.

(2) Vehicles of Panchayat Samiti/Zila Parishad may be used by non-officials as per orders issued by the Government from time to time.

314. Conditions for use of vehicles. – (1) In addition to the Chairpersons of the Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads and the Chairman of the Standing Committees of the said Panchayati Raj Institutions, the Vikas Adhikari and Extension Officers in the case of a Panchayat Samiti and the Chief Executive Officer/Additional Chief Executive Officer and the Headquarters Officers of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj department are, subject to the provision of Sub-rule (2), entitled to the use of the vehicles for official purposes.

(2) The use of vehicles shall be subject to the following conditions: –

(i) the vehicles shall be used primarily for inspection of development works and other activities of the Panchayat Samiti or the Zila Parishad.

(ii) the vehicle shall not be used for the journey from residence to the office and vice versa :

Provided that whenever any case of serious sickness within the area of the Panchayat Samiti is reported and no ambulance is made available by the hospital for carrying the patient from the village to the hospital, the vehicle may be detained for such purpose on payment of charges at the rate of Rs. 2.60 per KM or as determined by the State Government from time to time.

(3) The vehicles may also be used by Headquarters officers of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department.

315. Vehicles are driven only by drivers. – Vehicles shall only be driven by the authorized driver thereof. No member of the Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad or Officer thereof shall drive the vehicles.