File affidavit on availability of slots for affixing High Security Registration Plates: Orissa HC to Transport dept

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court today directed the Transport department of the state government to submit an affidavit regarding the availability of slots for affixing High Security Registration Plates (HSRPs) on vehicles till December end.

The Transport department has been asked to specify whether slots are available for affixing HSRPs till the end of December. This apart, the court sought to know whether the Transport department has any plan to impose penalties on vehicle owners for their failure to affix the HSRPs due to the unavailability of slots.

The court posted the next hearing on the case to October 31.

The state government had on September 30 informed the HC that the deadline for affixing HSRPs was extended till October 31. It had told the court that post offices and Jan Seva Kendras would be used for booking of slots for fitment of HSRPs on vehicles.

The court had then announced that it would assess the outcome of the extension of deadline for fitment HSRPs on October 26.

Notably, two bus owners—Pabitra Mohan Khatua and Madhab Mohanty—had filed a PIL in the HC alleging unreasonable and impractical deadlines laid by the state government for affixing HSRPs without arranging proper infrastructure. The petitioners had highlighted the absence of proper infrastructure for online booking for HSRPs.