Odisha Minister, MLA fined for violating traffic rules

Balasore: Ensuring ‘law is equal for all’, Balasore Traffic police today imposed a fine on School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash and MLA Swarup Das for violating traffic rules.

Source said the Balasore traffic imposed Rs 1,000 fine on the Minister and the MLA for driving a motorcycle without wearing helmet. The MLA was driving the two-wheeler with Minister Dash sitting pillion. None of them was wearing helmet.

A challan of the said fine amount was issued in the name of vehicle owner Pankaj Agarwal of Bank Colony at Ranipatana here. Later, MLA Swarup Das turned up at Traffic police station here and deposited the fine amount.

Earlier in the day, the Minister made surprise visit to different schools in the town here. Along with the MLA, he  visited Balasore Town High School and Barabati Girls’ High School this morning. He held discussions with teachers and students regarding their requirements and reviewed the facilities available in the schools.

On the occasion, he informed that over two lakh students have migrated to Government-run schools from private ones. Around 11,000 new teachers will be appointed in the state, the minister said, hoping  that the Orissa High Court will give permission for the same. The appointment process will  begin once Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik returns to the state from his foreign trip, he added.