New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked 19 States to respond within four weeks to a public interest petition seeking implementation of the Centre's decision making it mandatory for all vehicles to have high security registration plates.

A Bench consisting of Chief Justice Y. K. Sabharwal and Justices C.K. Thakker and R.V. Raveendran gave them the final opportunity to file counter affidavits, failing which the Chief Secretaries would have to personally explain the reasons.

To curb crimes

The petitioner, Maninderjit Singh Bittta saidthe object of the insistence on high security registration plates was to curb increasing car thefts and their use in commission of rape, murder, dacoity, kidnapping, etc.

Basically the system was intended to improve security and assist law-enforcing authorities in tackling road-related crimes.

The scheme, introduced in 2001, was yet to be implemented by the Centre and the States even after numerous time extensions.

The petitioner sought a direction for implementation of the scheme and against diluting the standards of the high security number plates, especially the requirement of chromium-based holograms.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail