Sources say that Singh has sent a note to his departmental officers. The note has been forwarded to experts for comment.

It was marked on a complaint from a transporter, who claimed he was being harassed for not disclosing his PAN number.

In his note, Devinder Singh states: ``It (PAN) seems to be an avoidable harassment. See if you can dispense with it''.

Devinder Singh told Express Newsline: ``As it is, transporters who apply for renewal submit an affidavit saying they will not avoid paying income-tax. PAN is only leading to unnecessary harassment''.

He, however, refused to comment on whether he has ordered his departmental officers to do away with the PAN-must clause immediately, 26 days before Delhi goes to polls.

After the Delhi High Court quashed the government notification on nationalisation of bus routes and the government allowed Blueline owners to resume operations from September 1, the STA announced it would issue temporary permits, renewable every six months.

Among the several clauses which were incorporated afresh in the application/renewal forms at that time, one stipulated that Blueline bus owners must submit their permanent account numbers.

This, says a senior official, fulfills two objectives. First, it ensures that transporters cannot avoid paying income-tax. And more importantly, it deters bus operators from using permits transferred through power of attorney.

And transfer of permits is not only illegal, but also violates a Supreme Court order issued on December 16 last year. The court had directed: ``Transport Authorities shall not renew any permit which has been or is being used by any person other than the original grantee...''

The official says there used to be several instances in which a bus operator with a permit, transferred through power-of-attorney, would bring the original allottee at the time of renewal.

``It was very difficult to discover the fraud on the spot. The department decided to go ahead with the PAN scheme as it was the best option to tackle this problem,'' the official says.

``No one would would like to give his PAN to another person, even after transferring his permit.'' Devinder Singh's note is perceived as an election sop by his departmental officers. ``We have asked for written instructions, if he decides to go ahead with the idea,'' says another official.