Congress MLA Avtar Singh Junior has raised serious allegations of corruption within Punjab’s driving test system, claiming that officials are accepting bribes to clear applicants without conducting proper tests.
The issue gained attention during the Punjab Assembly session on Thursday when data revealed an unusually high pass rate—exceeding 94 per cent—in Hoshiarpur, Phillaur, and Jalandhar, prompting scrutiny of the state's testing procedures.
At the national level, the average driving test pass percentage stands at approximately 65 per cent. However, figures presented in the Assembly by Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar showed that between September 2024 and February 2025, the pass rate in these Punjab districts ranged between 94 per cent and 100 per cent.
Questioning the AAP government’s claim of “zero tolerance” towards corruption, Avtar Singh Junior alleged that applicants seeking a driving licence without taking the actual test are paying bribes of up to Rs 15,000 to officials.
He called for an in-depth investigation into the matter and urged the Transport Minister to take strict action against those responsible.
The MLA also raised concerns over the alleged manipulation of CCTV footage at test centers, stating that cameras are being deliberately switched off during the testing process to facilitate the issuance of licences without proper evaluation.
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He emphasised the urgent need for reforms to prevent unqualified drivers from receiving licences through fraudulent means.
Dr. Kamal Sohi, a road safety expert and a member of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) under the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, voiced similar concerns regarding Punjab’s outdated driving test system.
He revealed that more than seven lakh licences are issued annually through the state’s aging automated driving test tracks, which rely on obsolete skill-testing methods.
According to Dr. Sohi, the ineffective assessment of driving skills at Punjab’s 32 test tracks has led to the certification of unskilled and ineligible drivers, significantly contributing to road accidents across the country.
The allegations have intensified the debate over the need for stricter regulations and modernised testing infrastructure to ensure road safety and eliminate corruption in Punjab’s transport department.
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