A day after the Aam Aadmi Party government announced the second phase of the odd-even scheme from April 15 to 30, the Delhi High Court on Friday issued notices on a public interest litigation alleging that the government, instead of enforcing pollution control rules, was “misdirecting itself” to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads.
The writ petition, filed by NGO Campaign for People’s Participation in Development Planning, has alleged that the rise in vehicle-generated air pollution in the Capital was due to non-enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which prescribes punishment and fines for driving a polluting vehicle.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath sought the response of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Delhi Lieutenant-Governor on the petition by March 30.
The petition said the authorities were issuing pollution under control certificates in a casual manner without conducting proper tests, while the odd-even formula was contrary to the object and purpose of the Motor Vehicles Act. Such an action also impinged on fundamental rights of the people, it contended.
The petitioner sought directions to the Centre and the L-G to strictly enforce and implement Section 190 (using vehicle in unsafe condition) of the Motor Vehicles Act to prevent polluting vehicles from being driven on the roads.
