The recent surprise checks at the Sub-Registrar Offices and Regional Transport Offices by the sleuths of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption have revealed how deep-rooted corruption is in these offices.Such searches were also conducted in Madurai district in the past and unaccounted money running into a few thousands have been seized many a time.The money is usually paid by the service seekers — those who register transactions of their lands, houses or other buildings in the SROs and those who want to get driving licence or their renewal or registration of their new vehicles. However, this money is not every time paid to the officials concerned by the members of the public.“The corrupt officials have conduits or well-oiled channels in the form of brokers, document writers or driving school operators to collect and give the bribe money from the members of the public,” a DVAC official said.Some people pay whatever the brokers, driving school operators or document writers ask them to pay. “They are either impatient or they want to get their job done in violation of the established government procedures. Others just do not know the actual fee or charges for the services,” the official said.People should first know how much they need to pay for a driving licence or to register a document of a particular value.“These days most of the payments to government departments are in online mode. People should first know the right fee or charges and then question the driving school operators, document writers or touts about these bribe money?” he said.If any driving school insisted that the people pay additional ₹1,000 or ₹1,500 towards paying bribe to the officials, they should contest it. If they still demand it, they can complain with the officials concerned or with the local police,” the DVAC official said.Besides, they could also tip off the DVAC sleuths about the demand which could lead to surprise checks.The DVAC personnel would continue with their surprise checks at all government offices based on the complaints and alerts from the members of the public. The DVAC Madurai district unit could be contacted over 0452-2531395 for any complaints of bribe or corrupt practices in government offices. Published - June 19, 2026 09:39 pm IST