Karnataka govt may fix 5-year deadline for high security number plate

Two decades after the Centre issued the first order on implementing a high security registration plate (HSRP), the Karnataka government which got caught in legal wrangles over “faulty” tenders is set to try its hand at enforcement once again.

The state government had come under pressure in the court following petitions which challenged the defective number plates. The Transport department had told the court that the HSRP was being installed on all vehicles purchased after April 2019 but replacing the existing number plates has been delayed due to the legal challenges to its previous tenders.

Officials in the Transport department told DH that the government had set up a committee for scrutiny and approval of the tenders which are set to be issued in the next few weeks.

“We are discussing the deadline for replacing old plates with HSRP. A time frame of five years seems to be adequate. We will consult the government on the issue,” a senior official said.

Additional Commissioner for Transport Narendra Holkar said some of the clauses in the tender were yet to be finalised. “We are finalising the technical clauses and the time frame for implementation will be decided while awarding the tender,” he said.

He said the new system will improvise on the service delivery system. “People can place orders for the HSRP online and get the plate fixed at the comfort of their home by paying additional charges,” he said.

Legal wrangles

In 2013, the department had hit the headlines for modifying the tender several times allegedly to favour a company. The tender was challenged in the high court and the department was forced to cancel it in the coming days.

Officials said the legal hurdles have now been cleared. “The department will face contempt action if it fails to enforce HSRP at the earliest. The matter has been brought to the notice of the transport commissioner,” an official said.

The department’s bungling in the past has led to repeated violations of the deadlines set by the Union government and even the Supreme Court.