HC okays secure number plates

The Delhi High Court on Friday cleared the decks for introduction of high security and tamper-proof number plates for vehicles in the Capital from next month.

The Delhi High Court on Friday cleared the decks for introduction of high security and tamper-proof number plates for vehicles in the Capital from next month.

HT Image

Justice SK Kaul and justice Rajiv Shakdher paved the way for the project, dismissing a petition filed by private firm Tonnjes Eastern Security Technologies Pvt Ltd which had challenged the government's notification empowering Delhi Integrated Multi Modal Transit System Ltd (DIMTS) to float tenders and procure special number plates.

The bench also imposed a penalty of approximately Rs 8 lakh on the firm for moving court and putting impediments in implementation of the High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) system.

The number plates have a chromium-based hologram with 'chakra' image sticker having the engine and chassis numbers.

The HSRP project, intended to prevent vehicle thefts, will enable investigating agencies to track stolen or missing vehicles by using smart cards and global position system (GPS).

The bench accepted government standing counsel Najmi Waziri's argument that the petition was premature as only a decision was taken to award the contract to a private party which would manufacture the unique number plate with a reflective logo and a film coating on it while the government will emboss the number and fix it on vehicles.