No New Registration of Diesel-Run Taxis in Delhi: SC

Existing diesel taxis with All-India tourist Permit will, however, be allowed to ply until the permit expires.

A traffic jam in Delhi. (Photo: Reuters)

There will be no new registration of diesel-run taxis in the national capital, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed but gave a breather to cabs having all-India tourist permits to ply in the national capital till the expiry of their permits.

The bench allowed existing All India Tourist Permit (AITP) diesel taxis to operate in the national capital till the expiry of their permit. These five-year long permits, will not be renewed once they are expired.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice of India TS Thakur, comprised Justices AK Sikri and R Banumathi.

No new diesel taxis will be registered in Delhi. All registration of city taxis shall only be permitted only if the vehicles operate on dual-fuel (CNG/Petrol), or purely CNG or petrol. We make it clear that no new diesel vehicles can be registered as city taxis.

Supreme Court Bench

New AITP permits will be labelled AITP-N and holders will not be authorised to offer point-to-point (within city) services in NCR.

For the taxis to provide point-to-point services, their permits will have to be converted to AITP-O.

However, even the diesel taxis which are allowed to ply on the roads will be subject to safety, security, and pricing norms, and other clearances given by competent authorities.

File photo of Delhi traffic. (Photo: Reuters)

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appointed as amicus curiae in the case, said that the ban order has forced 64,500 taxis off the road leading to a trouble situation overnight.

Salve suggested that the Centre should issue norms for regulating taxis having All India Permits and it should decide a way forward for non-diesel cabs.

The Centre should give new tourism permits allowing taxis to cater to point-to-point travel services within NCR. Meanwhile, let the present situation continue till the Centre comes out with new rules regulating them.

Harish Salve, Senior Advocate

Solicitor general Ranjit Kumar argued that NCR-specific rules would be difficult to formulate, as AITP rules were meant for the whole country.

The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) assured the court that all its future contracts would ensure that cabs will only be non-diesel cabs.

(With PTI inputs)