Maninderjit Singh
Bitta Vs. Union of India & Ors.
O R D E R
1.
We
had passed a detailed order on 7th April, 2011 referring to the judgments and directions
of this Court in the cases of Association of Registration Plates v. Union of
India [(2005) 1 SCC 679] and Maninderjit Singh Bitta v. Union of India [(2008)
7 SCC 328]. As is evident, the main judgment of this Court in the
aforementioned case of Association of Plates (supra) was pronounced on 30th November,
2004 and further directions were issued on 8th May, 2008 in case of Maninderjit
Singh Bitta (supra) to secure implementation of various statutory requirements as
per the earlier judgment of this Court. The present order has to be read in
continuation of our order dated 7th April, 2011 and the judgments referred
supra.
2.
Sufficient
time has elapsed but default on the part of some States in complying with the directions
of this Court still persists. In fact, seven years have elapsed but it appears to
us that some States have not even taken initial steps to implement the scheme
of High Security Registration Plates (for short, `HSRP') in their respective
States. We regretfully note that the situation in the present case is the converse
of compliance. There is no State in the entire country which has successfully, in
accordance with the statutory provisions and scheme, as approved by this Court,
implemented the scheme in its entirety. As far as the financial limitations faced
by different States are concerned, the matter was examined by this Court and their
prayer for exemption was declined. However, they were permitted to complete the
implementation of the scheme in phases. Of course, even such request was
subsequently withdrawn.
3.
The
other matter with regard to permitting the HSRP to be fixed by private vendors,
even if approved by the Government, was considered and for appropriate reasons,
as stated in paragraphs 40 and 46 to 48 in the case of Association of Registration
Plates (supra), rejected by this Court. It was held that "the
interpretation sought to be placed by the petitioner on the said paragraphs of the
Rule would result in frustrating the high security aspect and the object of the
scheme of affixation of High Security Registration Plates on vehicles." In
terms of paragraph 4 of clause 9 of the Motor Vehicle (New High Security
Registration Plates) Order, 2001 "no high security plate shall be affixed
outside the premises of the Registering Authority".
4.
Another
important facet of these cases is that in the process of selection, the States were
expected to invite tenders and were even given liberty to consult experts prior
to finalizing such tenders. The registration plates were then to be affixed by
the selected tenderers at the Regional Transport Office of a District or State.
The object of the ordinance and the judgment of this Court was to preserve
public security and safety by ensuring that every vehicle in the State is fixed
with HSRP and no part of the country remains where the scheme is not
implemented.
5.
On
the basis of the implementation of the scheme, the States can be classified
into four categories. In the first category there are four States/Union
Territories : Nagaland, West Bengal, Manipur and Puducherry, where the tender
process was followed, the successful tenderer has been awarded the contract for
supplying security registration plates and the predicted date of enforcement of
the scheme in the State has been fixed. But, no affidavit has been filed on
behalf of these States confirming that the scheme has been successfully
completed in all the districts of the respective States and also that the States
would ensure complete and comprehensive implementation of the scheme in future as
well. Let such affidavits be filed by the Secretary, Transport of the respective
States within four weeks from the date of the passing of this order.
6.
Then
there is a second category of U.T./States i.e. the U.T. of Chandigarh and the
States of Jharkhand and Bihar which have not followed the procedure for
selection and have approved certain vendors with Type Approval Certificate (TAC)
from the Central Government, who would be permitted to affix the HSRP at their own
premises or at the office of the RTO. As we have already indicated, this is not
in compliance with the directions of the Court, the scheme and provisions of
the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. If these States are permitted to adopt their own
procedure, then it is bound to defeat the very purpose of security and uniform affixation
of HSRP all over the country. Hence, this cannot be permitted as it would defeat
the entire exercise undertaken by this Court over number of years. The aforesaid
States are, therefore, directed to:
a. Immediately invite
tenders;
b. Finalize the entire tender
process within six weeks from today;
c. File compliance report
in this Court, in the form of affidavit stating that tenders have been
finalized and the work of affixation of security registration plates has begun in
every district or part thereof, within two weeks thereafter.
7.
The
third category include the defaulting States of Andhra Pradesh, Himachal
Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. These States
again can further be divided into two sub-categories. In the first sub-category,
there are States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh which have informed
this Court, by filing of affidavits that they have fixed the dates for
publication of tenders. They have estimated the period of publication of tender
being the months of August and September of this year.
These States have
surprisingly taken not only months but years to even fix a date for publication
of tender. Despite our order dated 7th April, 2011, even the tenders have not
been published as yet, though we had granted six weeks time for completing the
process. Besides fixing the time limits for filing of the affidavits, we had also
indicated that this Court would be compelled to take action against default the
defaulting States under the Contempt of Court Act, 1971 as well as impose exemplary
costs personally recoverable from the erring officers. However, before we take both
these actions against the above category of defaulting States, we would give
them another opportunity to complete the entire process of publication and issue
tender within six weeks from today and commence the implementation of the
scheme for fixation of HSRP in their States immediately thereafter. The
affidavits to that effect should be filed within eight weeks from today.
8.
Now,
we come to the second sub-category of defaulting States, i.e. the States of Haryana,
Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. These are the States which have taken
no action at all or have merely initiated the process without any effective
result. They have not filed any affidavit to show why the directions of the Court
have not been complied with, or, if complied with, to what extent the said compliance
has been successful and finally whether they have followed the due process as
directed to be followed by the Courts, in the implementation of the scheme. All
these States have done nothing except praying for extension of time before this
Court.
The State of Haryana,
firstly, took no steps for years and thereafter, on 5th May, 2011, filed an affidavit
to the effect that they have constituted a Committee of Secretaries to approve
the draft of the tender notice and approval was to be granted on 6th May, 2011.
There is nothing on record to show whether such approval has been granted or not
and what steps have been taken by the State thereafter to comply with the directions
of this Court. All the other States in this category have prayed for extension of
time before this Court and some States have not even done so. Vide order dated
7th April, 2011, we had put at notice, not only these States but all concerned
authorities in each State throughout the country, requiring them to show
compliance to the orders of this Court.
The conduct of these States
clearly reflects their callousness and lack of will to obey the orders of this Court.
Their attitude is one of disobedience rather than compliance. Thus, in our considered
view, these are the defaulting states which have, with impunity, flouted the orders
of this Court, despite warnings being issued, including the directions
contained in order dated 7th April, 2011.
9.
From
the record before us, it is clear that there is apparent and intentional default
on the part of the concerned officers of these defaulting States. Consequently,
we issue notice to show cause why proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act,
1971 be not initiated, if found guilty, why they be not punished in accordance with
law and why exemplary costs, personally recoverable from the erring officers/officials,
be not imposed. Notice shall be issued to:
a. Secretary (Transport)
of the defaulting States.
b. Commissioner, State Transport
Authority of the respective States.
10.
Now,
we will come to the last category of States, i.e., the ones that have taken
certain effective steps to secure compliance with the statutory provisions and the
scheme. These are the States which have invited tenders in accordance with the
selection process that has been approved by this Court. Some of these States
have even opened the tender bids however, awarding of tender has not been finalized.
The States of Assam, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh,
Uttarakhand and Kerala and the Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Andaman &
Nicobar, have prayed for further extension of time to complete the process,
which is already at an advanced stage. We may notice here that the State of
Kerala had invited tenders earlier and it had received a single tender within
the time provided. The matter remained pending at that stage for a considerable
time and thereafter, the State of Kerala filed I.A. No. 13 of 2011 praying for certain
directions, including the permission to re-open applications for fresh tenders which
was dismissed by this Court vide its order dated 12th August, 2011.
We are reluctant to agree
to further extension of time for the reason that all these States/U.Ts had
enough time to comply with the requirements and some of these States/U.Ts were even
cautioned vide our previous order. Some of these States/U.Ts have even given
reasons for their non-compliance, including that they had invited tenders earlier
but had to cancel the same for one reason or the other. Keeping in view the fact
that all these States have at least taken some steps to finalize the proper
implementation of the scheme, we consider it appropriate, though as mentioned above,
with reluctance, to grant further extension of eight weeks time to these States/U.Ts
to complete the entire process and implement the scheme in its entirety, in
accordance with law.
Thus, while granting
them such extension, to complete the entire process for implementation of the scheme,
we direct that vehicles in all the districts of the respective States/U.Ts
shall install the HSRP within eight weeks from today without exception and default.
An affidavit of compliance in that regard be filed immediately thereafter.
11.
List
the matter for directions, qua the States to whom we have issued show cause notice
for initiation of proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 and imposition
of exemplary costs as aforestated, after two weeks while the matters in
relation to all the other States shall be listed immediately on the expiry of
eight weeks from today.
................................CJI.
(S.H. Kapadia)
...................................J.
(K.S. Radhakrishnan)
...................................J.
(Swatanter Kumar)
New
Delhi
August
30, 2011
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