SC asks states to expedite scheme of high security number plates

New Delhi, Nov 24 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed 19 states and Union Territories to file their responses within four weeks to a PIL seeking implementation of the scheme of high security number plates for vehicles in order to check crime and terrorist activities in the country.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justices C K Thakker and R V Raveendran, while strongly disapproving the casual attitude of the state government towards the directions of the Apex Court, directed that if counter-affidavits were not filed in four weeks, then the Chief Secretaries of the states concerned would have to personally explain to the Court the cause for not responding to the orders.

The petitioner, Maninderjeet Singh Bitta, former national president of the Youth Congress and currently the president of All India Anti Terrorist Front, in his petition has contended that if the scheme of high security number plates is implemented, then terrorist activities can be checked as bogus high security number plates can be easily detected through GPS (Global Positioning System) and sattelite surveillance.

According to the petitioner, VIP number plates can be fixed within a few minutes and even the vehicles used in the assasination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was suspected to be having a fake number plate and terrorists, anti national elements and criminals get easy access to their targets by using fake number plates.

The Court also directed that the counter-affidavits of the state and Union Territories shall also give details of the steps taken by the state governments to implement the policy and approximate time frame within which the policy can be enforced by these governments.

The petitioner was also given four weeks time to respond to the counter-affidavits of the government. The matter shall be listed for hearing in the month of April next year.

UNI AKS/SC SAM RP HT1930