Use of State emblem instead of number plates: Is it against the law?
4 Nov, 2013
As per a reply given by the Delhi State government, the constitutional authorities who have been enjoying the privilege of displaying the state emblem instead of the registration numbers are violating the traffic rules. As per a reply given by the road transport authority, neither the Motor vehicles Act of the State of Delhi nor the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, provides for display of state emblem instead of registration number.
Rakesh Agrawal of ‘Nyay Bhoomi’ had sought relevant regulations allowing dignitaries to use state emblem (four lions) in place of the number plate and the number of vehicles. In reply to the application filed by Agrawal, both the home and road transport ministry said that inspite of the Central Government authorizing the constitutional authorities to display the state emblem on their official vehicles (2007), there is no law which provide for their displaying the emblem ‘instead’ of the registration numbers. The time when this practice started could not be pinpointed as there is no record of the same.