The Delhi Police has got the permission of the Supreme Court to register heavy vehicles, including water-cannons, baggage-scanning and riot-control vehicles, with an engine capacity of over 2,000 cc ahead of the Delhi civic polls.
Earlier in the week, the police had made an urgent mention before a Bench led by Chief Justice of India J. S. Khehar that it needed to register these vehicles as the elections were drawing closer.
Chief Justice Khehar had agreed to list the matter before the appropriate Bench monitoring cases dealing with air pollution in the National Capital.
Appearing before a Bench of Justices Madan Lokur and Deepka Gupta for the Delhi Police, Solicitor-General Ranjit Kumar said the vehicles were urgently required for emergency services.
1% cess
Mr. Kumar submitted that the police would comply with the SC direction of August 12, 2016, that registration of diesel vehicles over 2,000 cc would be done only after payment of 1% of the vehicle's ex-showroom price as environment compensatory charge (ECC). The cess amount would be drawn from the customer at the time of purchase of the vehicle.
The court had lifted its ban on registration of high-end diesel cars and SUVs having engine capacity of 2,000cc and above in Delhi and National Capital Region after mandating the payment of this 1% cess as a prior condition.