03rd May 2016
 
To All IATO Members.
 
Dear Colleagues,
 
Greetings from IATO!
 
Sub: Govt. of India Ministry of Tourism Tour Operators being harassed for using All India Tourist Permit Cars (AITP) ignoring Hon’ble Supreme Court orders by the local police.
 
On a top priority, we had taken up this urgent issue yesterday itself with Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Government of India, Shri. Vinod Zutshi, Secretary (Tourism), Govt. of India and also addressed letter to Shri Kapil Mishra, Hon’ble, Minister for Tourism, Art & Culture, Govt. of NCT of Delhi  respectively. ( A copy of letter is placed below for your information).
 
We hope to get some immediate & positive response from the above respective authorities.
 
We have also requested for a copy of the Hon’ble Supreme Court order. As soon as we get it, same will be circulated to you all.
 
The next date of hearing is on 9th May 2016 at 2 pm and we shall update you once we receive the Hon’ble Supreme Court orders.  
 
This is just to keep you all updated on the action initiated by us.
 
Thanks & regards
 
Sincerely
 
Pronab Sarkar                      Lally Mathews
President                                Hony. Secretary
 
 
DEL/308/2016                               2nd May, 2016
 
Dr. Mahesh Sharma
Hon’ble Minister for Tourism
Ministry of Tourism
Government of India 
Transport Bhawan
New Delhi
Hon’ble Minister Sir,
 
Sub: Govt. of India Ministry of Tourism Tour Operators being harassed for using All India Tourist Permit Cars (AITP) ignoring Supreme Court Orders by the local Police.
 
Greetings from IATO!
 
We would like to bring into your notice the Supreme Court in its recent order has put a ban on operation those operating on point to  point basis. But a special relief has been accorded to the tourist cabs with All India Tourist Permit from the ban and thus entitled to ply in NCR for sightseeing and airport pick and drop services for genuine tourists.
 
Some of our members has reported that unfortunately this information has not been filtered down to the local police who often stopped the drivers and harass them with chalans in spite of holding All India Tourist Permit. This not only puts the tourist into inconvenience but gives a very bad image about the country. 
 
We all are trying to put our efforts together to increase the number of tourists in Delhi. However, this kind of incidence gives a very negative impact.
 
It is therefore requested that a clear-cut directive must go from Commissioner of Police to Delhi Traffic Police not to harass the All India Tourist Permit holder vehicles and stop this practice immediately.
 
Sir, only your personal intervention can bring some solution to this growing problem of Police harassment to AITP vehicles.
 
Looking forward for your kind cooperation please.
 
Thanking you,
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Pronab Sarkar
President