Delhi govt moves Supreme Court seeking time to phase out diesel taxis

The Supreme Court had on April 30 refused to extend the deadline fixed for conversion of diesel taxis into less- polluting CNG mode.

New Delhi:

Delhi Government on May 3 moved the Supreme Court seeking time to phase out diesel taxis from the national capital citing law and order problem and inconvenience being caused to the people. A bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice F M I Kalifulla asked the Delhi Government to submit a suitable detailed and workable plan saying whenever such decisions are taken, inconvenience is bound to be caused to the people.

The bench also said if suggestions are given by today, then it will hear the matter tomorrow. During the brief hearing, senior advocate Chander Uday Singh, appearing for the Delhi Government, said in the wake of Supreme Court's order the diesel taxis are not plying in the national capital which is causing inconvenience to the common people and a law and order situation has taken place. He 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 on April 3 detailing how you will phase out the vehicles and what is your plan and how you propose to tackle this situation."

It also asked the Delhi Government as to what will happen to registration of vehicles and will it stop them and asked it to give details as to what it wanted to do. To this, the counsel said 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," he said. The counsel added that some time should be given so that some alternate arrangement could be made.

The Supreme Court had on April 30 refused to extend the deadline fixed for conversion of diesel taxis into less- polluting CNG mode. 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.

"We, therefore, direct that all taxis including those operating under aggregators like OLA and UBER in the NCT of Delhi, plying under city permits shall move to CNG not later than March, 1," it had said and later extended it to April 30.