Tamper-proof numberplate: SC issues notice to 3 transport sec

New Delhi, Aug 30 (PTI) Transport secretaries of north
Indian states Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, and northeastern
state Arunachal Pradesh and were on Tuesday issued notices by
the Supreme Court seeking their response on why contempt
proceedings should not be initiated against them for failure
to implement its order on tamper-proof high security number
plates and licenses for vehicles.
A bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia asked them to
file their reply within a week. It also directed all the
states, which have not implemented the scheme, to complete the
process of providing high security number plates and licenses
for vehicles within eight weeks.
The court passed the order on a petition filed by
Chairman of All-India Anti-Terrorist Front M S Bitta seeking
the court's direction to introduce tamper-proof number plates
and licenses for vehicles, contending that the present system
is prone to misuse by anti-social elements.
He had contended that despite repeated orders from the
apex court, the state governments have failed to introduce the
scheme.
Agreeing with the petitioner, the court had said states
should take immediate steps to implement the scheme.
The Indian government had issued notification regarding
this in 2001 and the apex court in its various orders have
repeatedly asked the authorities to implement the scheme but
they have failed.
The court had earlier on April 7 issued contempt notices
against Delhi, northern state Punjab and central state Uttar
Pradesh governments for not implementing its order in this
regard.