SC raps Delhi Police for having fleet of BS-IV vehicles

The Supreme Court on Friday said it "cannot have the Delhi Police issuing challans to people for not driving BS-VI norm vehicles, but having its own fleet non-compliant of these norms", as the police insisted that the court relax the procurement norms and allow it to register BS-IV complaint vehicle.

A bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Deepak Gupta queried the Delhi Police on its failure to procure BS-VI norm compliant vehicles. "BS-VI vehicles are readily available in the market, and they go around the city. Though they are a bit expensive, but the emission from these vehicles is very less. Why didn't you buy these vehicles," the court asked the Delhi Police counsel, citing the emission from BS-VI diesel vehicles are virtually close to emission from petrol vehicles.

The court reminded the Delhi Police that the mandatory BS-VI norms will be applicable in early 2020, and it is important for the police force to procure vehicles accordingly. Delhi Police requires over 200 diesel vehicles for use in districts for its smooth functioning, which includes water cannons, trucks/troops carriers/mini trucks, water tankers, mini buses, riot control vehicles, cranes, prison vans etc.

All these vehicles are BS-IV complaint and have engine capacity of 2000 cc and run on diesel.

Delhi Police informed the apex court these vehicles come under necessity and meant for utility services, which are urgently required. "Modify the ban order December 12, 2015, further extended to March 31, 2016 by allowing the registration of the vehicles procured by Delhi Police.....and direct the office of the registering authority to grant registration heavy vehicles having engine capacity of 2,000 cc and above as applied for Delhi Police," contended the police counsel.

The apex court has asked the Delhi police to re-consider its stance on the procurement of these vehicles and rather comply with BS-VI norms.

The apex court in December 2015 had banned the registration of private cars and SUVs using diesel within engine capacity of 2,000 cc and above in Delhi-NCR, till March 31, 2016. Later, in April 2016, the apex court had permitted Delhi Police to retain diesel vehicles. The police filed an application for purchase of 30 diesel vehicles on exigency basis before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which refused to grant permission On August 29 this year.IANS