ARTO Pulwama Rebuts Fake News Regarding Allotment Of Vanity Number

The Assistant Regional Transport Officer, (ARTO) Pulwama on Thursday rebutted a news story circulated over a few social media platforms regarding allotment of a BID/Vanity number to “some blue eyed applicant”.

The ARTO termed it a fake news item which betrays its content as it proclaims that a public notice has been issued by this office regarding invitation of objections.

The office called the news item illogical and malafide act to give publicity to a untrue story through a popular newspaper.

He said that publishing of the public notice implies that this office is vigorously pursuing the matter as per procedure and in a manner which may not lead to any harm to the public exchequer.

Besides, the ARTO said that currently, the option of e-auction for allotment of BID numbers or Premium Registration Numbers on online portal in J&K is unavailable, although, the same is in vogue in other states like Chandigarh, Punjab, and Delhi etc where portal is open for bidding and interested parties can participate in the bidding and submit their BID fee online.

"Hence, the spirit of the same modus operandi is followed offline by the office through the medium of public notices published in leading dailies to ensure that all interested parties/public are able to participate in the bid and the highest bidder receives the premium number in question, as was done in the instant case", he added.

While sharing the moot point which qualifies the story baseless, the officer said the fact that till date the premium number in question (Reg. No JK13H 0786) is unalloted hence renders the whole story baseless.

While inviting the concerned publishers of fake story to verify details before circulating a baseless news in public domain, the ARTO said, "Let this press note be taken as an invitation by the publishers of the fake news item referred above to approach this office with a sincere desire to research and verify the facts, rather than attempting to create sensationalism through hearsay and half truths".

He further said, "through the medium of this press note, the interested applicants are once again invited to take Part in the said bidding process, which shall take place in the office chambers of ARTO, Pulwama on 01 /07/2022 at 4:30pm".