Delhi Government de-registers 40 lakh “overage” vehicles

The Delhi government told the Supreme Court that out of 1.10 crore vehicles registered in the national capital, 40 lakh “overage” vehicles both diesel and petrol has been deemed de-registered. More than 15 years in case of petrol and 10 years for diesel — have been de-registered by the transport department.

Advocate Wasim A Qadri, who is representing Delhi government, told the SC bench that such vehicles would not be allowed to ply on the roads here.

The SC had on October 29 ordered Delhi government’s transport department to start impounding overage vehicles if they are found plying on roads.

This information was shared after the top court expressed displeasure that orders passed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and SC in 2015, banning more than 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles from plying in the NCR, was not yet observed.

The SC bench said, “Three-and-a half-year have gone by but it appears that orders passed by the NGT and confirmed by this court are not being complied with yet. The counsel for the Delhi government has been asked to advise his client to act with promptitude.”

Additional Solicitor General A N S Nadkarni representing Centre told the bench that the Central Pollution Control Board had complied with the top court’s direction to create social media accounts on Twitter and Facebook, where citizens can lodge complaints regarding pollution in Delhi-NCR.