No Action Against Owners of 10 & 15-yr-old Diesel & Petrol Vehicles for 4 Weeks: SC
In a significant development, the Supreme Court has passed an order stating that no “coercive” action will be taken against the owners of over 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in Delhi for four weeks. This decision was taken in response to an application filed by the Delhi government, which challenged the ban on these vehicles as a pollution control measure in the capital.
The application was filed by the Delhi government after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed the authorities to impose a ban on vehicles older than 15 years in Delhi-NCR to reduce pollution. However, the Delhi government had appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the NGT order.
The Supreme Court’s decision is a major relief for the owners of old vehicles in Delhi, as it gives them a four-week reprieve from the ban. During this period, the owners of these vehicles will not face any “coercive” action, which means they will not be forced to take their vehicles off the road or pay any fines.
The Supreme Court’s order is seen as a victory for the Delhi government, which had argued that the ban on old vehicles would cause inconvenience to the public and also lead to the loss of livelihood for many people who depend on these vehicles for their daily commute.
The Delhi government had also argued that the ban would not be effective in reducing pollution, as many of the newer vehicles on the road are also polluting due to the poor quality of fuels available in the market. The government had also pointed out that the ban would lead to a shortage of public transport and would disproportionately affect the poor and the vulnerable sections of society.
On the other hand, the NGT had argued that the ban was necessary to reduce pollution in Delhi, which has been consistently ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the world. The NGT had also pointed out that the ban would help to reduce the number of polluting vehicles on the road and would also lead to a reduction in the consumption of fossil fuels.
The Supreme Court’s decision is seen as a major setback for the NGT and the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), which had been advocating for the ban on old vehicles. The decision is also seen as a victory for the Delhi government, which had been resisting the ban on old vehicles.
The Supreme Court’s order is also seen as a major relief for the owners of old vehicles in Delhi, as it gives them a four-week reprieve from the ban. During this period, the owners of these vehicles will not face any “coercive” action, which means they will not be forced to take their vehicles off the road or pay any fines.
The Supreme Court’s decision is also seen as a major blow to the efforts of the NGT and the EPCA to reduce pollution in Delhi. The NGT and the EPCA had been advocating for the ban on old vehicles as a measure to reduce pollution in Delhi, but the Supreme Court’s decision has put a spanner in their works.
The Supreme Court’s order is also seen as a major challenge to the Delhi government, which had been resisting the ban on old vehicles. The government will now have to come up with a new plan to reduce pollution in Delhi, as the ban on old vehicles is now unlikely to happen in the near future.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s decision to give a four-week reprieve to the owners of old vehicles in Delhi is a major relief for the owners of these vehicles. The decision is also seen as a major setback for the NGT and the EPCA, which had been advocating for the ban on old vehicles. The decision is also seen as a major challenge to the Delhi government, which will now have to come up with a new plan to reduce pollution in Delhi.
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