Order of the Supreme Court regarding steps to control vehicular pollution, 15/06/2020

Order of the Supreme Court of India in the matter of M. C. Mehta Vs Union of India & Others dated 15/06/2020 regarding steps to control vehicular pollution. A bunch of cases on similar matters were clubbed together and heard by Justices Arun Mishra and S. Abdul Nazeer. The cases ranged from registration of diesel vehicles/machines/equipments of North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) for public purpose to registration of BS-IV vehicles.

The SC allowed the registration of 4 chasis mounted suction cum jetting diesel machines purchased by the EDMC in December 2018 as well as the registration to 25 diesel operated vehicles and machines purchased by the NDMC. The report from Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority informed the court that "CNG and Petrol vehicles of C.E.V. BS­IV complaint vehicles are not available in the market."

The SC said that no registration of any BS­IV vehicle should be made without the court's permission and directed A.N.S. Nadkarni, Additional Solicitor General to collect the details from all the Regional Transport Office (RTO) throughout India and furnish information that how many vehicles of BS­IV category are sold and registered after lifting of the lockdown. Further, the Apex Court made it very clear that "now no registration and sale of the BS—IV vehicles is permitted."