Bringing an end to the VIP culture, the Delhi High Court has stated that all vehicles in the city of Delhi should be registered with the appropriate authority and must also have licensed number plates. This rule applies to all vehicles including the vehicles of VVIPs such as the President, Vice-President, Governors and Lieutenant Governors. Now every vehicle needs to comply with the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.
The Court has directed the central and state government to ensure that all vehicles carry .licensed number plates and are registered with the registering authority as per the rules.
The Court gave this ruling while hearing a petition filed by an NGO claiming that the use of the national emblem instead of number plates on the vehicles of VVIPs and VIPs attracts more attention and exposes them to danger and possible threats. Further, the petition has stated that in the absence of any registration number on the vehicle, it becomes very difficult to identify the true owner of the vehicle especially in the cases of road accidents.
The central government has informed the Court that the offices of VVIPs have been directed to ensure that their vehicles are registered in accordance with the Act. The Counsel for the state government has also informed the Court that all vehicles used by the officials in the state are registered.
The move is in line with the Modi government’s idea of ending the VIP culture in India. Earlier, in 2013, the Supreme Court had also directed the government to crack down on the rampant misuse of it.