Ban on diesel car registration in Delhi-NCR to continue, says Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday observed that the ban on registration of diesel vehicles above 2000cc will continue in Delhi until further orders, according to CNN News18 report. 

However, the apex court in its order agreed to relax its order banning diesel-run all-India tourist permit taxis which ferry BPO employees in Delhi-NCR region. 

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.

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 later 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.

The Delhi government banned plying of diesel-run taxis on the city roads after the Supreme Court refused to extend the April 30 deadline fixed for conversion of diesel cabs into less-polluting CNG mode.

Aimed at bringing down pollution levels in the Capital that has earned the tag of the world’s most polluted city, the top court’s first order against diesel-run commercial vehicles came in December.

The court had on December 16 last year considered the contention of senior advocate Harish Salve, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae, that all diesel taxis be moved to CNG fuel within a reasonable time but not later than March 1, 2016.

There are around 55,000 diesel-run taxis with all-India permit.