MOTORSIGNS INDIA Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr R Ramkumar (Senior), assisted by Mr S.M. Prasanth; Dr Aditya Sondhi (Senior) assisted by Mr Binoy Vincent; Mr Naveen R Nath (Senior) assisted by Mr Chelson Chambarathy and Mr P A Mohammed Shah, learned Counsel for the petitioners; Ms T C Krishna learned DSGI, Mr Vishnu J learned CGC; Mr P Santhosh Kumar learned Special Government Pleader; Mr P A Muhammed Shah; Mr Harikumar G, Mr Mangal Pandai; Mr Aman Preeth Singh, Mr Millu Dandapani; Mr Vishnu J; Mr N N Girija and Mr V S Abhishek learned Counsel for the respondents.

(2.) The prayers sought in these writ petitions are summed up as follows:

(3.) The present batch of writ petitions have been filed primarily in respect of the implementation of High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) in the State of Kerala on old vehicles manufactured prior to 1/4/2019 (around 75 lakhs) and the restrictions imposed by the State Government on implementing the HSRP on such vehicles. As per the petitioners' case, Rule 50 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989 read with HSRP Order, 2018 (as amended), the HSRPs are to be fixed by only those entities who are authorised by the State Government/Union Territories. Despite having the Type Approval Certificate (TAC), the State Government is not allowing the petitioners to affix HSRPs on motor vehicles manufactured prior to 1/4/2019.