Security plates may hit roadblock

UT Administration had launched HSRP on August 1 with much fanfare. The Administration instead of going in for tendering to call vendors,who would install the number plates,had asked the 18 vendors approved by the Centre to set up their operations here. Three vendors are operating in Chandigarh at present.

The Supreme Court has observed that Chandigarh along with Jharkhand and Bihar approved certain vendors with Type Approval Certificate (TAC) from Central Government,who would be permitted to affix HSRP at their own premises or at the office of RTO.

The Supreme Court has observed that this is not in compliance with its directions,the schemes and provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act 1988. It is further observed that this cannot be permitted as it would defeat the entire purpose of security and uniform affixation of HSRP all over the country.

The court has directed that tenders be invited immediately. The entire tender process would have to be finalised within six weeks.

A compliance report would have to be filed in the Supreme Court in the form of affidavit stating that tenders have been finalised and the work for affixation of security registration plates has begun in every district or part within two weeks thereafter.

Meanwhile,Sub-divisional Magistrate (South) Vinod P Kavle said they are yet to receive a hard copy of the Supreme Court’s directions. Once this is received,the future course of action would be decided.

The senior lawyers in the city opine that the directions of the Supreme Court would have to be complied with at the earliest.

Senior BJP leader and Incharge of Legal and Legislative Cell of the party,Satya Pal Jain,said the orders of the Supreme Court are binding. “The Administration would have to comply with the directions immediately. The directions by SC are final,” he said.

This could imply that the Administration might have to stall the installation of HSRP till the tenders are invited. This could create a backlog at the office of the Registering and Licensing Authority with a large number of new vehicles being registered everyday.

While introducing the scheme,the Administration had stated that it was due to the policy of inviting the vendors to set up operations and not going in for tendering that the number plates could be introduced in a short time.