Hyderabad, November 02: LATE Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s fondness for fancy registration numbers was well known as he was keen on having the number — 2345 — for all his vehicles.
It was perhaps this fancy that led Reddy to give a go-ahead to the Transport Department for reassignment of registration numbers which simply means that even if the owner sells his vehicle, he would be able to use the old number for his new vehicle. But recently, the Centre intervened and asked the Government to drop the idea immediately saying it would lead to utter chaos.
Sources in the Transport Department told Expresso that as per the Motor Vehicle Act, a registration number has to be given to the vehicle and not in the name of the person.
“But in the United States and some other Western countries, the registration number is given in the name of a person and not for the vehicle and he can use the same registration number for any vehicle he purchases,” officials said.
However, in the last week of July, the State government issued a preliminary notification (GO.167) for reassignment of numbers. On being informed about this step, the Centre directed the Transport Department to withdraw the GO saying it would become counter-productive in the long run.
“Reassignment of registration numbers is against the Central Motor Vehicle Act. But we had to send the proposal as the late Chief Minister had insisted on it,” sources said. Actually, Andhra Pradesh had followed in the footsteps of Maharashtra which was all set to implement the same idea. But both States have had to withdraw hastily.
“The Central government even directed other states in the country not to issue similar orders permitting reassignment of numbers as it can be easily misused,” sources said.
“Had the order been implemented, even the newest vehicle would have had the oldest number. The Police and Transport Enforcement Wing would have find it extremely difficult to track down stolen vehicles,” an official said.
In the existing system, one can easily tell the year in which the vehicle was bought merely by looking at the registration number.
The modus operandi of most vehicle-lifters is to replace either the chassis or registration number or both using the equipment of an old vehicle. But the thieves are caught by officials by looking at the registration number.
As per the earlier order, reassignment fee was Rs 1 lakh for fancy numbers and Rs 10,000 in case of ordinary numbers. Though Transport officials tried to explain the foolhardiness to the Government, they were reportedly asked to go ahead.
YSR’s convoy of vehicles always had the fancy number 2345. Interestingly, many of his supporters too were particular that their vehicles have the same registration number. Presently, this number is auctioned for not less than Rs 1 lakh.
–Agencies