Delhi Govt Gets 2 Days to Submit Plan to Tackle Diesel Cab Crisis

The bench also questioned the Delhi Government about the registration of diesel vehicles.

File photo of Delhi traffic. (Photo: Reuters)

The Supreme Court has granted the Delhi government two days to submit a plan to phase out the use of diesel cars in the National Capital Region.

The Delhi government moved the Supreme Court to request more time to phase out diesel taxis from the city citing law and order problems and inconvenience being caused to citizens.

The case was heard in the court on Tuesday and the apex court had asked the government to submit a report by 4 pm on the same day. However, the government asked for two more days to submit a plan.

Delhi Government To Submit Detailed Plan To Phase Out Diesel Cabs

The Supreme Court on 30 April refused to extend the deadline fixed for conversion of diesel taxis into less- polluting CNG mode including those under aggregators like Ola and Uber in the NCR .

A bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice FMI Kalifulla asked the Delhi Government to submit a suitable detailed and workable plan justifying that whenever such decisions are taken, inconvenience is bound to be caused to the people.

The bench will hear the matter tomorrow if suggestions are given by today.

During the brief hearing, senior advocate Chander Uday Singh, appearing for the Delhi Government, said that some time should be granted so that the vehicles are phased out in a time-bound manner.

The bench said, “you submit a master plan by 4 pm today detailing how you will phase out the vehicles and what is your plan and how you propose to tackle this situation.”

Registration of Diesel Vehicles to be Addressed

The bench also questioned the Delhi Government as to what will happen to registration of vehicles and their plans on tackling it.

The counsel responded that there are around 30,000 diesel taxis which were plying in Delhi and due to the apex court’s order, the vehicles have been taken off the roads which has caused huge problems to the people.

It is a human problem. Although the Delhi Government is not opposing the order and is committed to check pollution, but due to this sudden move, people are facing difficulties

Chander Uday Singh, Senior Advocate representing Delhi Govt.

The counsel added that some time should be given so that some alternate arrangements could be made.

( With inputs from PTI)