SC issues final warning on high-security plates for vehicles

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a final warning to the centre and states to speedily implement the policy on installation of high security registration plates (HSRP) in all vehicles in the country.

In particular, a bench comprising Chief Justice S H Kapadia and justices K S Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar issued contempt notices to Delhi, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh over their failure to take any action for implementing HSRP, as mandated under the court's 2008 judgment upholding the centre's 2001 notification on mandatory HSRPs for vehicles.

It directed senior officials of the three states to be present in court on the next date. It also told other states which have started the process to complete it within six weeks.

Writing the judgment for the bench, justice Kumar said the executive must implement the court's order within the stipulated time, especially when the issue concerned safety of citizens, which was of paramount interest for the governments.

''In the present days, safety of the citizens is of paramount concern for the state and all its authorities.

The directions issued by this Court for implementation of HSRP scheme sought to achieve such interest as well as it would be a step forward even in the field of investigation in case a vehicle is used in commitment of an offence or a crime,'' the court said.