984-PIL-28-2025.odt 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY, NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR. PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO. 28 OF 2025. Sudarshan s/o Keshavji Bagde ..Petitioner versus Chief Secretary-State of Maharashtra and ` ..Respondents two others. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. S. T. Chauhan, Advocate for petitioner. Mr. Sunil Manohar, Senior Advocate with Mr. Hrishikesh Marathe, for respondents/State Mr. Anand Jaiswal, Senior Advocate with Mr. Yash Kullarwar, Advocate for intervenor. Mr. A. Joseph, Advocate, for intervenor through Video Conferencing. Mr. Bajaj, Advocate with Mr. Bhavin Suchak, for intervenor through Video Conferencing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CORAM :- ANIL S. KILOR and RAJNISH R. VYAS, JJ. DATE :- 9th SEPTEMBER, 2025 P. C. Heard learned counsel appearing for the parties. 2. The issue which is sought to be canvassed in the present Public Interest Litigation is relating to the procurement of the High Security Registration Plate (HSRP) and third registration mark on motor vehicles. Pursuant to the amendment to Rule 50 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989 (for short, ‘Motor Vehicles Rules’), it is now necessary to install the HSRP. 3 The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the matter of M.C.Mehta vs. Union of India in Writ Petition (C) No.13029 of 1985 decided on 13.08.2018 passed an order thereby directing affixing of hologram based stickers of light blue colour in case of petrol/CNG vehicles and a hologram based stickers of orange colour for diesel vehicles. The directions were to implement the same by 02.10.2018 in National Capital Region, pursuant to the amendment in Rule 50 of the Motor Vehicle Rules. 2025:BHC-NAG:9087-DB 984-PIL-28-2025.odt 2 4. As per mandate of the Motor Vehicles Rules, the exercise has been undertaken by the States for the installation of HSRP at the cost of the vehicle owners. 5. It is the case of the petitioner that in a news paper article published in hindi daily ‘Lokmat Samachar’ the cost of number plate (HSRP) for two wheelers, three wheelers, four wheelers and heavy vehicles are provided. As per the rates provided in the said news paper article, the charges prescribed in the State of Maharashtra for installation of HSRP are higher than the charges prescribed in the other States namely Andhra Pradesh, Gujrat, Jharkhand and Goa. As per the news article, the rates prescribed for installation of HSRP in the State of Maharashtra and the other States are as below: jkT; nksifg;k frifg;k dkj Hkkjh okgu egkjk’Vª 450 500 745 745 vka/kzizns”k 245 282 619 649 xqtjkr 160 200 460 480 >kj[kaM 300 340 540 570 xksok 155 155 203 232 6. In that view of the matter, this Court, while issuing notice on 04.04.2025, has directed the respondent no. 2-State Transport Commissioner to file an affidavit within a period of three weeks and to explain as to why the State of Maharashtra can not provide the HSRP at lower rate as provided by the other States named above. 7. In compliance with the aforesaid directions, the respondent no.2 has filed its affidavit-in-reply on 05.08.2025. The respondent no.2, while countering to the rates prescribed/quoted in the news article and as recorded by this Court in the order dated 04.04.2025, has along with its reply filed charts comparing the prices for installation of HSRP with the other States namely Gujrat, Goa and Andhra Pradesh, which are as follows: 984-PIL-28-2025.odt 3 Maharashtra and Gujarat HSRP rates excluding GST Ref: Letter of Commissioner of Transport, Gujarat No.COT/311/08/2023 dated 10.08.2023. Sr.No. Class of MV Maharashtra in Rupees Gujarat in Rupees % Difference 1 Two Wheelers & Tractor Rs.450/- Rs.468/- +4 2 Three Whellers Rs.500/- Rs.500/- 0.0 3 LMV/MMV/HGV Rs.745/- Rs.790/- +6 Maharashtra & Goa HSRP rates excluding GST Ref. Letter of Director of Transport, Goa, No.D.Tpt/EST/1493/2012/Part File-A/293 dt.31.01.2025 Sr.No. Class of MV Maharashtra in Rupees Gujarat in Rupees % Difference 1 Two Wheelers & Tractor Rs.450/- Rs.465/- +4.7 2 Three Wheller Rs.500/- Rs.500/- 0.0 3 LMV/MMV/HGV Rs.745/- Rs.788/- +6.5 Maharashtra & Andhra Pradesh HSRP rates excluding GST Ref. Letter of of Transport Commissioner, Andhra Pradesh, No.906666/R/2017 dated 22.08.2023 Sr.No. Class of MV Maharashtra in Rupees Gujarat in Rupees % Difference 1 Two Wheelers & Tractor Rs.450/- Rs.451/- +0.3 2 Three Wheeller Rs.500/- Rs.500/- 0.0 3 LMV/MMV/HGV Rs.745/- Rs.808/- +8.8 8. The above referred charts show that either the prices in Maharashtra of HSRP are similar or lessor than the prices prescribed/quoted by the other States. Thus, the grievance of the petitioner that the prices prescribed by the State of Maharashtra for installation of HSRP are higher than the prices prescribed by the other States, cannot be accepted in absence of any counter affidavit filed by the petitioner countering the information submitted by the respondent no.2 about the rates/charges for installation of HSRP in other States. 984-PIL-28-2025.odt 4 9. Furthermore, the aforesaid affidavit mentioning the rates prescribed for installation of HSRP in other States came to be filed on 05.08.2025 i.e. more than a month before. However, there is no counter filed by the petitioner to the same disputing the rates mentioned in the affidavit. 10. Thus, considering the price chart provided by the respondent no.2 in reply pointing out that the prices prescribed for installation of HSRP in the State of Maharashtra are not higher than the prices quoted/prescribed by the other States for the same work, we are of the opinion that the grievance raised by the petitioner that the prices prescribed by the State of Maharashtra for installation of HSRP are higher than the prices quoted by the other States does not survive. 11. In the circumstances, we do not find any merit in the present Public Interest Litigation and it is dismissed as such. No costs. Civil Application, if any, stands, disposed of. ( RAJNISH R. VYAS, J.) (ANIL S. KILOR, J.) Andurkar.