The Madras High Court on Thursday directed the Additional Director-General of Police, Crime, to be present in the court on February 9 to explain the action taken against the display of illegal high security registration plates (HSRP) on vehicles.
The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice M.M. Sundresh passed the order on a public interest litigation petition by Captain (retd.) S.K. Santosh. The petitioner had said the tender for manufacture and supply of HSRPs was not finalised in Tamil Nadu. No entity was authorised to manufacture the plates. In spite of this, several persons were supplying registration plates touting them as HSRPs. This violated the Motor Vehicle Rules and Supreme Court judgments.
When the matter came up, a report of the Transport Commissioner was filed. The Bench noted that there was numerical discrepancy in the report with regard to the action taken. The Additional Government Pleader was unable to explain the discrepancy. The court granted a week’s time to explain the position.
The Bench observed that the DGP and the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, had not filed the compliance reports. The police are expected to investigate and trace the origin of illegal HSRPs. But the court did not know the progress made in that regard. Investigation should be completed and a status report filed within a week.
The steps taken after the court passed its order on November 28 should also be incorporated in it. The ADGP, Crime, should be present in the court on the next hearing date to explain the position, the Bench ordered.
