Display registration numbers on VVIP's cars: HC
New Delhi, July 18: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said that every vehicle, including that of top constitutional authorities, should display the registration number.
The order by a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar came while disposing of the public interest litigation filed by NGO Nyayabhoomi, which has sought to enforce display of registration numbers on VVIPs' cars.
The detailed order will be released later
The Road Transport and Highways Ministry, in its affidavit filed before the bench in March, had agreed to display of registration numbers on VVIPs' cars and said that it has written to the authorities concerned to get these vehicles registered.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Nyayabhoomi, which stated that the practice of replacing the registration numbers with the national emblem -- three lion heads adapted from the Lion Capital carved on an Ashokan pillar at Sarnath -- is both arbitrary and symptomatic of the desire to rule rather than to serve.
The plea said the practice makes the VVIP cars conspicuous and thus the dignitaries become easy targets for terrorists and anyone with malicious intent.
If a person met with an accident involving such vehicles, he cannot bring any claim against the erring persons due to absence of any identification mark, it added.
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CPI(M) inaugurates NH-66 stretch in Kerala ahead of PM dedicates it to nation
Kochi (PTI): The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala on Wednesday inaugurated one of the completed stretches of NH-66, hours ahead of its dedication to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in protest against the exclusion of state PWD minister P A Mohammed Riyas from the PM's event.
Riyas, reportedly, will hold a roadshow on one of the completed stretches of the National Highway-66 that is scheduled to be inaugurated by the PM.
The Thalappady-Chengala stretch of NH 66 was inaugurated by CPI(M) MLA C H Kunhambu.
The roadshow by Riyas will be held on the Vengalam-Ramanattukara stretch of the Kozhikode bypass.
Both these stretches, which were upgraded to six lanes and already opened to the public, were set to be inaugurated by the PM at 12.30 pm here.
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According to government sources, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan won't attend the event, though his name is included in the programme schedule. However, no particular reason was cited for his decision to skip the event.
State Ministers M B Rajesh and K Krishnankutty, who have been invited to the PM's event, also said they are not taking part because of personal reasons.
In response to the CM and other ministers' decision, state BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar told reporters that, as per protocol Vijayan, being the head of the state, was invited for Modi's official event, and if the Marxist veteran was aggrieved over his son-in-law (Minister Riyas) not being there, that is his problem.
"As head of the state, the CM was invited in accordance with the protocol. It is nowhere said that the CM's son-in-law (Riyas) and other family members also have to be invited. If they have a problem with it, so be it. That is what I have to say," the BJP leader said.
"It was for the CM to decide who should accompany him. Elections will be held in the state in around 30 days. The CPI(M) is trying to create a controversy now as they know that after 30 days, Vijayan will not be CM and Riyas will not be a minister," Chandrasekhar said.
He further said that the CM was aware of the PM's visit 5-6 days in advance, and he did not say anything about who all should be invited.
"Why did he not say anything? This is all an attempt to create controversy. If you (CM) wanted a certain minister to accompany you, it should have been communicated to the government of India in advance. Why did you not do that? From what I know, the CM did not say anything to the Centre," the BJP state president claimed.
