PTI
NEW DELHI
Diesel-run sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and high-end private cars with engine capacity of 2000 cc and above will not be registered in Delhi and National Capital Region till March 31, 2016, the Supreme Court ordered today as it unveiled a slew of measures to curb the alarming rise in pollution levels in the national capital.
The court, which also directed 100 per cent hike of the Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) being levied on light and heavy commercial vehicles entering Delhi, said that its directions were aimed at “mitigating hardship” of residents of Delhi “that has earned to it the dubious reputation of being the most polluted city in the world.” “It is noteworthy that diesel vehicles of 2000 cc and above and SUVs are generally used by more affluent sections of our society and because of the higher engine capacity are more prone to cause higher levels of pollution. A ban on registration of such vehicles will not therefore affect the common man or the average citizen in the city of Delhi.
“We accordingly direct that registration of SUVs and private cars of the capacity of 2000 cc and above using diesel as fuel shall stand banned in the NCR up to 31st March, 2016,” a bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justices A K Sikri and R Banumathi said in its interim order and agreed to the contention that diesel vehicles are “the most polluting” ones contributing to the current state of affairs in Delhi. See pg 8
