The News Minute | June 15, 2014 | 9.32 am ISTThe state transport minister and the transport commissioner are locking horns over the former’s withdrawal of a circular stipulating mandatory use of seat belts for passengers in the rear seats. The order was issued on June 5, 2014 but was later revoked by the minister on Saturday. In protest against the Transport Minister Thiruanchoor Radhakrishnan's statement in this regard in the Assembly, Transport Commissioner Rishi Raj Singh has extended his leave, which was to end on June 20 to July 13. Singh has already given a letter to the Chief Secretary seeking the extension of leave from Delhi, hours after the minister's statement in the Assembly. He is of opinion that if the state government does not agree with the steps taken by him, it is free to appoint anyone of its choice as transport commissioner.Singh, who feels that he was only trying to enforce the rules of the Motor Vehicles Act, said he does not know the happenings in the state as he had left the state on June 11. He said he had only applied for the extension of his leave.Singh had issued the circular in the wake of a report that Union Minister Gopinath Munde would not have died if he had worn a seat belt when the car in which he was travelling met with an accident.