Maj. Gen (Rtd.) S.G. Vombatkere, President, Mysore Grahakara Parishat writes
The Ministry of Kannada and Culture of Karnataka has been issuing directives in the media about display of Kannada licence plates in vehicles in our state. Since these directives go against Rule 77 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules which clearly states that the only english letters are permitted on licence plates, the public is confused. So MGP wrote to the Government of Karnataka asking it to clarify its stand on Kannada licence plates. The Government has now issued a clarification. It states " ... if the vehicle owner wishes, he/she may have an additional number plate bearing the registration number in Kannada". The clarification also states "if Kannada is used in licence plates, it will make for effective implementation of Kannada language".
Therefore, the current legal position concerning licence plates is as follows:
1. Licence plates in Kannada violate Rule 77 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules and therefore such vehicles can be prosecuted. Only English licence plates are legally permitted.
2. According to the state Government clarification, the additional licence plate in Kannada is optional and so if one does not display the additional Kannada licence plate, he can not be punished (contrary to what the Ministry of Kannada and Culture officials are saying).
3. The state Government does not seem serious about Kannada licence plates. Sec. 65 of the Motor Vehicles Act empowers the state Government to make binding rules on the additional information that needs to be dsplayed on vehicles. The state Government can exercise this power and make the additional Kannada licence plate mandatory. Then, non-display of the additional Kannada licence would the be a violation of the law which can be prosecuted.