Stickers Bearing Official Name, Designation Or Political Party Is Tactic To Avoid Being Questioned By Police, Should Be Removed: Madras HC

The Madurai bench of Madras High court recently noted that use of stickers bearing official name, designation or political marks in vehicles is a tactic employed by violators to avoid being questioned by the police.

This court is of the opinion that the use of stickers bearing the official name, designation or political marks in the motor vehicles is a tactic employed by those, attempting to avoid being questioned by the police officers and to project a sense of superiority. It is the responsibility of the citizens to abide by the laws and regulations of the State and any failure to do so results in serious consequences.

Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Sathya Narayana Prasad also opined that such stickers would in effect defeat the purpose of legislations standardising the marks and size of the number plate. 

The sole purpose of fixing the standards for registration marks, size of numbers and letters on the number plates, is to ensure seamless identification of motor vehicles. Stickers on number plates, in effect, renders the whole intention of prescribing the size of letters and numbers nugatory. Therefore, such unlawful activities committed under the shield of such stickers/political marks, cannot be accepted by this court.

The court thus directed the Regional Transport authorities to conduct daily inspections and seize such vehicles if their number plates are not in accordance with the standards prescribed. The court also directed the authorities to impose fine and initiate appropriate action against the violators. 

The petitioner R Chandrasekar pointed out that in many parts of Karur district, instead of registration numbers, the names and photos of political parties are inscribed on the vehicles using adhesive stickers. Further, while the number and letters in the number plates are inscribed in small sizes, these photos are inscribed in much larger fonts. 

The petitioner pointed out that such inscriptions were in violation of Rules 50 and 51 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 which mandates the size and font in which inscription is to be made on the number plates. It was also in violation of Motor Vehicles (High Security Registration Plates) Order, 2018 which requires owners to follow high security registration plates with hologram. 

The court noted that the provisions clearly stipulate the manner of display and the size and fonts to be used in the number plates. Teh law clearly states that stickers and adhesive labels are strictly prohibited in the vehicles. 

Further, the Madras High Court in V.Ramesh v. the Vice Chancellor and others has clearly ruled against fixing of portraits of political personalities, name boards of organizations and party flags on the dashboards and windshields of the motor vehicles. The court had directed removal of such portraits and name boards from dashboard observing the same to be an unlawful activity to flout the law.

In view of the above legal positions, the court issued directions to the Regional Transport authorities and disposed of the matter. 

Case Title: R.Chandrasekar v. The Secretary to Government, Home (Transport) Department and others

Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Mad) 516

Case No: W.P(MD) No.27376 of 2022