The Supreme Court had ruled in December that diesel cars with engines of more than 2,000cc capacity cannot be sold in the capital until March 31.
Highlights
- No diesel taxis to operate in Delhi from tomorrow: Supreme Court
- Police to pay 30% environment compensation charge on heavy-duty vehicles
- 13 of world's 20 most polluted cities in India, Delhi tops the list: WHO
The ban on registration of diesel vehicles above 2000cc will continue in Delhi till further orders. The Supreme Court today adjourned a special day-long hearing on the matter till May 9.
The interim order banning registration of diesel-run vehicles with engine capacity of 2000 CC and above was imposed till March 31, and then extended till April 30.
During the hearing today, the court refused to give more time to taxi operators in the National Capital Region (NCR) to switch from diesel to the cleaner compressed natural gas (CNG). The deadline for the change, which has been extended twice, is Saturday.
A number of cab operators and their associations had urged the court for an extension of the deadline, but a bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur, Justice AK Sikri and Justice R Banumati refused the request.
The apex court had initially asked the diesel cab operators in the NCR to switch over to CNG by March 1. That deadline was later extended to March 31 and then to April 30.
However, the Supreme Court today allowed the Delhi Police to purchase 197 heavy-duty vehicles to be used for various activities, including VVIP security, but asked it to pay a 30 per cent environment compensation charge on the total cost of vehicles.
An apex court bench passed the order after Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand submitted that the vehicles were required for VVIP security and law and order purposes.
The court also allowed Delhi Jal Board to purchase 250 vehicles to replace 240 vehicles which have been in service for more than 10 years.
On December 16, in a bid to cut down on vehicular emissions in Delhi and NCR, the top court had ruled that cars with engines of more than 2,000cc capacity cannot be sold in the capital until March 31.
The ruling came after a World Health Organization study showed 13 of the world's 20 most polluted cities are in India, and Delhi tops the list.