Petition filed before Lokayukta on HSRP

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: While the Transport department of Kar nataka has fixed the deadline of affixing the High Security Registration Plate (HSRP) to February 17 2024 for the vehicles purchased before April 2019, the Vehicle Number Plates Manufacturers and Sellers Association have filed a petition before the Lokayukta alleging Rs 700-crore scam resulting from the department’s order.

The complainant also alleged that the Transport department has illegally exerted pressure on the general public to purchase HSRPs at an exorbitant price.

Jithendra, the president of the association, who filed the petition in his personal capacity, alleged that the Transport Department exclusively permitted vehicle manufacturers (OEMs) and their dealers to supply and fix HSRPs on old vehicles to control and check the substandard material, thereby allowed only OEMs and their dealers to sell and affix HSRP on old vehicles in accordance with the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 and prohibited all other entities including HSRP Manufacturers from direct supply of High Security Registration Plates to the owners of old vehicles.

It has been alleged that the Karnataka government is favouring just a few dealers as opposed to the 20 recognised dealers by the central government.

Karnataka Vehicle Number Plate Manufacturers & Sellers Association alleged that the monopoly of certain dealers in providing HSRPs would destroy the livelihood of over 25,000 families in the state who are employed in the licensing industry and deprive customers of availing different vendors at competitive prices.