The RTO of Mysore has recently issued a press release (duly reported in many newspapers) stating that according to a government order, all vehicles must display both English and Kannada licence plates.
But this contradicts the clarification the RTO had given to us on 27-2-2009. In response to an MGP letter to the Government of Karnataka, the RTO had then stated that according to Government Notification dated 12-9-1995, " ... if the vehicle owner wishes, he/she may have an additional number plate bearing the registration number in Kannada". The clarification also stated "if Kannada is used in licence plates, it will make for effective implementation of Kannada language". So dispalying Kannada licence plates was not compulsory but left to the choice of the vehicle owner.
Since the clarification issued by the RTO in February and the recent press release of the RTO are contardictory, we talked to the Department of Transport, Government of Karnataka (080 2235 2434) this afternoon and we were told that Kannada licence plates are only optional and not compulsory.
Will the RTO please clarify to the public whether Kannada licence plates are compulsory and if so give the details of the government notification which makes it compulsory?
The RTO press release poses some other problems. According to it, motor cycles should have English licence plates on the front left, Kannada licence plates on the front right and English licence plates in the back. Three-wheelers and four-wheelers must have English licence plates on the front left, Kannada licence plates on the front right, English licence plates in the back left (or centre) and Kannada licence plates on the back right. Which vehicle has provision for so many licence plates? We are only glad that there are no restrictions on the sides, the top and the bottom of the vehicles!
B.Vaikunth Shenoy, Mysore Grahakara Parishat