MP High Court Directs Strict Action Against Private Vehicles With Illegal Sirens, Flashing Lights, VIP Number Plates & Stickers

The Madhya Pradesh High Court, on Thursday (July 31), directed the Regional Transport Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) to take immediate actions against all vehicles with illegal sirens, flash lights, VIP stickers as well as irregular number plates under the provision of Motor Vehicles Act 1988 and a circular issued by the Bhopal Police Headquarters dated March 1, 2025.

The court further granted one week's time to all private vehicle owners to comply with the aforementioned provisions of the Act, as well as the circular dated March 1.

The bench of Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Binod Kumar Dwivedi, while issuing notice to the State and listing the matter after four week, directed;

"We hereby direct the Regional Transport Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) to immediately take action against those vehicles who are violating the notice/circular dated 01.03.2025. We hereby grant one week time to all the owners of the private vehicles to immediately remove the flash light, Siren and change the number plate as per the provisions of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 which has specifiedthe size, font and colour of number plate of the registration number of the vehicles and also remove extra plate attached above or below number plate except police vehicles and government vehicles". 

These observations were made in a public interest litigation filed by Mahesh Garg, a social worker and Former Councilor. In his plea, he highlighted the alarming number of vehicles 'unlawfully equipped with hooters/sirens, unauthorized flashing lights (red, yellow, blue), VIP stickers, and distorted/fancy/wrong number plates, in blatant violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988'. 

Despite the circular dated March 1, which directed the Commissioners and all District Superintendents of Police to run a 15-day drive taking strict legal action against all such violations, the petitioner argued that these infractions remained rampant in Indore and the authorities had failed to carry out 'sustained or effective action'. 

In the plea, it was contended that such modifications not only violated traffic laws but also endangered public safety and promoted traffic indiscipline. It was also argued that the use of VIP stickers facilitated the misuse of official symbols by unauthorized persons, thereby eroding public trust in law enforcement.

It was submitted that the administrative indifference of the Police is violating the public's 'right to safety, lawful conduct and equal treatment under Article 14 and 21'.

The plea also referred to a written representation that was forwarded to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (traffic) and the Regional Transport Officer, requesting immediate action, but no affirmative steps were taken. 

Therefore, the petitioner sought directions commanding the police authorities to ensure strict enforcement of provisions of the Act. The petitioner also sought directions to the authorities to 'undertake a continuous and statewide checking campaign, not limited to any specific dates, and publish periodic compliance reports in public domain'. 

Case Title: Mahesh Garg v State of MP (WP-29530-2025)

For Petitioner: Advocate Manish Yadav

Click here to read the Order