SC issues threat over car security plates

The court passed the order on a PIL filed by Chairman of All-India Anti-Terrorist Front M S Bitta.

The governments of various states and Union territories were warned today by the Supreme Court to either ensure high security registration plates (HSRP) for all vehicles by June 15,this year or face contempt of court proceedings.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice S H Kapadia and justices A K Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar also issued contempt of court notices to Andhra Pradesh Principal Secretary (Transport) D Lakshmi Parthasarathy and Transport Commissioner Hiralal Samaria for their repeated failure in filing proper affidavits on the issue of implementation of apex court order on HSRP.

“Installation of HSRP is a statutory command which is not only in the interest of the security of state,but also serves a much larger public interest. Therefore,it is not only desirable,but mandatory,for every state to comply with the statutory provisions/orders of this court in terms of Article 129 of the Constitution of India,1950.

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“All states,therefore,are mandated to fully implement the scheme of fixation of HSRP in their entire state,positively by 30th April,2012,in relation to new vehicles and by 15th June,2012 for old vehicles.

“We make it clear that they shall not be allowed any further extension of time for implementation of this direction,” said Justice Kumar,who wrote the judgement.

The apex court said failure to comply with its direction will lead to contempt proceedings against “the Secretary (Transport)/Commissioner,State Transport Authority and/or any other person or authority concerned persons under the Contempt of Courts Act,1971.”

The court passed the order on a PIL filed by Chairman of All-India Anti-Terrorist Front M S Bitta,seeking its direction to introduce tamper-proof number plates and licences for vehicles,contending that the present system is prone to misuse by anti-social elements.

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The apex court issued contempt of court notices to the Andhra Pradesh government officials taking strong exceptions to the manner in which they had responded to its earlier orders of April 7,August 30 and December 8,2011 for implementation of the HSRP scheme.

“We cannot help but to notice the unwarranted conduct and wilful disobedience of the orders of this court by the state of Andhra Pradesh. This state was found to be a defaulter in implementing even the earlier orders of this court.

“These affidavits or even the affidavits filed earlier on behalf of the state of Andhra Pradesh do not even remotely suggest that any step had been taken by the state for implementing the scheme of HSRP in compliance with the directions issued by this court,” the bench said.

The bench said all states which have invited tenders,have completed the process of finalising the successful bidder and issued the letters of intent,but have not yet signed agreements with the successful bidder,shall sign such agreements within four weeks. These states are Assam,Bihar,Gujarat,Haryana,Jammu and Kashmir,Jharkhand,Punjab,Tripura and Uttar Pradesh.

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The states which have so far not even finalised the tender process,they should do so,again,within four weeks from today.

The bench said despite the specific earlier orders by it,the states of Arunachal Pradesh,Meghalaya,Chhattisgarh,Orissa,Tamil Nadu,West Bengal and Union Territory of Lakshadweep have failed to file the requisite affidavits and undertakings within the time granted.

“The orders of the court are expected to be implemented by the officers of the government and the learned counsel appearing for the parties without default and with a sense of urgency,” the bench said while disposing of the petition.