Karnataka to extend HSRP fixation deadline beyond Nov 17

According to the transport department, out of the two crore vehicles that need HSRP affixation, only 2.6 lakh vehicles have finished the process. In addition, the Karnataka Transport department has also challenged the single bench order of the Karnataka High Court, that directed the state government to include all HSRP manufacturers to affix the registration plates, citing contradiction from the Central government notification on the HSRP affixation rules.

The High Court last week ordered a partial pause on an earlier single bench order directing the implementation of approval processes for high-security vehicle registration plate manufacturers.

In the original order, the petitioners, High Security Registration Plate Manufacturers Association of India, had challenged the state government notification issued on August 17 and 18, which had ordered that high-security plates from manufacturers authorised by vehicle manufacturers shall be supplied and attached by original dealers.

C Mallikarjun, additional commissioner of the transport department said, “We have implemented the HSRP affixation process as per the central government guidelines without changing any rules. However, as per the High Court’s single bench order, each vehicle manufacturer should accommodate all the plate manufacturers, which is not possible. Now that we have appealed against this decision, the Karnataka High Court has agreed to hear all the arguments on November 22. Till then, the court has asked the state government to hold a discussion with all the stakeholders and extend the deadline for HSRP affixation. We will do the same this week and will soon notify the new deadline.”

In addition, the transport department is also making provisions to include vintage cars in the HSRP ambit, given that the dealers for such vehicles no longer exist in the state and also to ensure that the owners of such cars get to retain their original plates while they affix the HSRP.

The HSRP affixation comes amid allegations that the state government is favouring just a few dealers as opposed to the 20 recognised dealers by the central government.

Karnataka Vehicle Number Plate Manufacturers & Sellers Association alleged that the monopoly of certain dealers in providing HSRP would destroy the livelihood of over 25,000 families in Karnataka who are employed in the licensing industry and deprive customers of availing different vendors at competitive prices.

The HSRP, a flagship project of The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is (MoRTH), is an aluminium number plate that is fixed onto a vehicle by a minimum of two non-reusable snap-on locks and has various identifiable features.

It has been made mandatory to fix them on vehicles registered before 2019, so that the old number plates are not tampered with and misused by car thieves. The HSRPs comprise details like engine and chassis numbers in a centralised database. The data helps in identifying a stolen car.

Transport department officials also claimed that not many vehicle owners are registering for HSRP affixation because of lack of enforcement measures and the affixation process caught in a legal battle in the Karnataka High Court.