SC to hear plea against ban of diesel vehicles

New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear a plea on Tuesday by automobile manufacturers seeking modification of its order prohibiting the sale and registration of diesel vehicles with an engine capacity of 2,000 cc and above.

A bench of Chief Justice T. S. Thakur, Justice A.K.Sikri and Justice R. Banumathi on Monday said the matter would be heard on Tuesday after senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Kapil Sibal and Gopal Subramaniam appearing for automobile manufacturers Mahindra & Mahindra, Mercedes and Toyota sought modification of its December 16 order, imposing the ban in the wake of alarming air pollution particularly during the winter season.

While doubling the environment compensation charge (ECC) for loaded commercial vehicles entering Delhi, the court had imposed a blanket ban on registration of diesel vehicles of 2,000 cc and above including SUVs in the National Capital Region (NCR), noting they are prone to cause higher pollution level and are used by the more affluent sections of society.

The court had also said no commercial vehicle registered prior to 2005 will enter Delhi and all taxis will have to switch over to CNG by March 1.

Banning the registration of SUVs and private cars of the capacity of 2000 CC and above using diesel as fuel in the NCR up to March 31, the court had however exempted the new commercial light duty diesel vehicles saying that they can for the present continue being registered in Delhi on account of the dependence of the public on such vehicles for supply of essentials.