No Action Against Owners of 10 & 15-yr-old Diesel & Petrol Vehicles for 4 Weeks: SC
The Supreme Court has passed a significant order in response to an application filed by the Delhi government, challenging the ban on over 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in the capital as a pollution control measure. In a significant relief to the vehicle owners, the apex court has ruled that no “coercive” action will be taken against them for the next four weeks.
The ban on old vehicles was implemented by the Delhi government in January this year, as part of its efforts to reduce air pollution in the city. Under the ban, all vehicles that are more than 10 years old are not allowed to ply on the roads of Delhi. However, the Delhi government had faced opposition from the vehicle owners, who claimed that the ban was arbitrary and violative of their fundamental rights.
The Delhi government had approached the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the ban, and the court has now granted a four-week reprieve to the vehicle owners. The court has also asked the Delhi government to come up with a plan to implement the ban in a more effective and less disruptive manner.
The Supreme Court’s order is a significant setback for the Delhi government, which had been touting the ban as a major step towards reducing air pollution in the city. The government had claimed that the ban would help reduce the number of polluting vehicles on the roads and improve the air quality in the city.
However, the vehicle owners had argued that the ban was arbitrary and violative of their fundamental rights. They had claimed that the government had not provided any alternative public transportation system to cater to the needs of the people, and that the ban would cause immense hardship to them.
The Supreme Court’s order is likely to be welcomed by the vehicle owners, who had been facing harassment and fine from the traffic police for plying their vehicles on the roads of Delhi. The court’s order has given them a breather, and they can now continue to ply their vehicles without fear of being penalized.
However, the Delhi government has not given up hope yet. It has been reported that the government is planning to approach the Supreme Court again, seeking permission to implement the ban in a more effective manner. The government has also been trying to persuade the vehicle owners to voluntarily scrap their old vehicles or upgrade to newer ones.
The Supreme Court’s order is also likely to have implications for the environment. Air pollution is a major problem in Delhi, and the ban on old vehicles was seen as a major step towards reducing it. However, the court’s order has given a breather to the polluting vehicles, which may lead to a further deterioration in the air quality in the city.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s order is a significant development in the saga of the ban on old vehicles in Delhi. While the vehicle owners have been given a breather, the Delhi government has been dealt a setback. The government will now have to come up with a new plan to implement the ban in a more effective manner. The Supreme Court’s order is a reminder of the need for a balanced approach to environmental protection, and the need to consider the rights of all stakeholders, including the vehicle owners.
