New Delhi:
The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition challenging the National Green Tribunal's orders that prohibit petrol vehicles older than 15 years and 10-year-old diesel vehicles from the National Capital Region.
"NGT is trying to do something good for the people, let us not discourage but assist them," said Chief Justice of India HL Dattu, while dismissing the petition by a private party.
In September 2014, the green court had directed Delhi and it's neighbouring states to ban petrol vehicles that are older than 15 years. More recently, on April 8, it ordered diesel vehicles that are over ten years old to be taken off the roads in Delhi and its neigbouring states.
Advocate Vishaal Sripathi, who is the petitioner, had challenged the green panel's jurisdiction and sought a stay from the top court on the implementation of the panel's directives.
But the top court countered his argument by saying, "the tribunal is only repeating orders passed by constitutional courts. Such a ban was first imposed by the Andhra Pradesh High Court earlier."
Both the orders of the green court are likely to affect lakhs of private and commercial vehicles.
Earlier this month the tribunal had rapped the governments of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for not complying with its 2014 order on tackling pollution.
On April 13, Delhi government which was struggling to execute the ban, told the court that it would need more time since it directly affected essential services including vegetable supply and garbage clearance.
The tribunal, which has temporarily stayed it's order for two weeks, has asked the government to suggest ways to enforce the ban by May 1.
It has also asked the government to recommend incentives for those who scrap polluting diesel vehicles.