RAJKOT: Rajkot City Police have issued a 60-day order prohibiting petrol pumps, CNG stations, and diesel stations within the city police commissionerate limits from supplying fuel to vehicles that do not display valid registration number plates.The order, issued by Police Commissioner Brajesh Kumar Jha under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and the Gujarat Police Act, aims to prevent the misuse of vehicles with missing, altered, or unclear registration plates.According to the directive, fuel stations must not provide petrol, diesel, or CNG to three-wheelers, four-wheelers, and other vehicles whose front and rear number plates are missing or whose registration numbers are not clearly visible and legally compliant.The restriction will also apply to vehicles with damaged or altered plates where the letters or numbers have become unclear due to wear, mud, paint, or other modifications. However, vehicles displaying valid high-security registration plates (HSRP) or other clearly visible and legally valid registration plates will not be covered by the restriction.The police have directed fuel station owners and managers to prominently display signboards in Gujarati and Hindi or English near entry and dispensing areas. The boards must clearly state that vehicles without number plates will not be refuelled under the Rajkot Police Commissioner’s order.The order also calls for the strict use of CCTV and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems at fuel stations. Operators have been instructed to ensure that cameras capture the front and rear registration plates of vehicles entering and leaving the premises and retain the footage for at least 30 days.Police said the measure is intended to improve traffic enforcement and public safety, particularly because vehicles operating without identifiable registration numbers can be difficult to trace in cases involving accidents, theft, hit-and-run incidents, and other criminal activities.Fuel station operators have also been asked to immediately inform the nearest police station or call 112 if a driver refuses to comply, creates a disturbance, threatens staff, or attempts to use force.Police have warned that violations of the order may lead to legal action under the applicable provisions of law, in addition to proceedings under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, where applicable.The directive has been circulated to fuel station associations, police officials, government authorities, and local media for implementation and public awareness.
