New Delhi: Delhi High Court today sought responses from the Centre and Lieutenant Governor on a PIL alleging that the government has “maliciously misdirected themselves” to slash the number of vehicles on road by the odd-even scheme instead of enforcing pollution control rules. A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath issued notice to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the LG and sought their replies by March 30 on the petition which also alleges that the rise in vehicle-generated air pollution in Delhi was due to “non-enforcement and non-implementation” of the 1988 Motor Vehicle Act, which prescribes punishment and fines for driving a polluting vehicle.
The petition by NGO ‘Campaign for People Participation in Development Planning’ has claimed that pollution tests carried out at the checking centres were a “sham” and pollution under control (PUC) certificates were being “casually issued” with the knowledge of the government and its agencies.
“Instead of checking vehicles and stopping the offending vehicles from being driven on road, the respondents, who are guilty of dereliction of duty on their part to enforce and implement section 190, maliciously misdirected themselves to cut the number of vehicle on road by prohibiting even and odd numbered vehicles from being driven on alternate days, in manner and terms contrary to the very object and purpose of the Act,” said the petition, filed through advocate Anil Aggarwal.
The NGO has also claimed that such action (odd-even scheme) also “impinges on fundamental rights of the people”.
