The TMT had published an advertisement in June this year inviting applications for the post of ATIs, citing graduation, possession of driving licence and 4-5 years experience as conditions to qualify for the post. However, despite having received more than 1,200 applications, the TMT administration unilaterally decided to fill the vacancies internally, qualifications and eligibility notwithstanding. In a circular issued on October 1 by Kamlakar Dixit, transport manager in-charge of TMT, the list of the thirty chosen candidates was declared from among the conductors and drivers of TMT, on the basis of seniority. The on-field training of these candidates began on October 4.

Allegingrampant corruption in selection of the trainees, Vijay Ghag, a member of the TMT's transport committee said: ``The transport manager in-charge has succumbed to the lure of money, in selecting unqualified people for the senior post of ATI. While most of them are under-educated, some of them do not even have the driving licences as required, since they were conductors formerly.'' Saying that the advertisements published to fill the vacancies were a farce, Ghag added: ``If they had to select ATIs internally, what was the need to advertise and take over a thousand applicants for a ride?''

The traffic manager in-charge, Kamlakar Dixit, though, had a different tale to tell. ``Ghag is raising the issue just because we did not select one of his relatives who had applied for the ATI's post.'' About the selection of candidates for training, Dixit explained: ``We have an agreement with the employees union that all vacancies for lower management posts will be filled internally, by promoting the existing employees.''Under this agreement, the conductors and drivers are promoted to the posts of controllers, after which they are promoted as ATIs, he said.

Asked why the advertisement was issued despite the arrangement with the union, Dixit downplayed it saying: ``The advertisement was just as a matter of routine.'' He added: ``Moreover, considering the urgency to fill the vacancies due to shortage of staff, we preferred to select the ATIs from the existing employees since they are already well-versed with the functions of an ATI and would be on the job quickly.'' Asked about the inadequate educational qualifications of the current trainees, Dixit said: ``They are only undergoing training now. They will be formally appointed as ATIs only when they pass the written exams after the training.'' Ghag alleged: ``If an eighth-standard passed person can qualify for training, how difficult would it be to clear the written test?''

Ghag said he and other committee members will raise the issue in the next transport committee meetingscheduled for the last week of October.