The Delhi High Court has directed the government to stop stalling and swiftly release pending EV subsidies. Over Rs 48 crore remains unpaid despite thousands of buyers waiting for their promised benefits.
New Delhi: In a major decision that affects thousands of electric vehicle (EV) buyers in Delhi, the Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi government to take fast action to release the subsidy money promised under the 2020 Electric Vehicles Policy.
This order came during a hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Jan Seva Welfare Society against the Government of NCT of Delhi and others.
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The case was heard by a Division Bench consisting of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhayaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela.
The judges made it clear that the government cannot delay payments just because the EV policy does not mention a specific time limit for giving the subsidy.
The Court strongly stated:
“The government is taking shield of the fact that the Delhi Electric Vehicles Policy does not provide any fixed timeline for disbursal of subsidy. Such a ground, in our opinion, is not available for the government.”
The Court also pointed out that the government already has the necessary funds, but the payments are being held up due to internal procedures.
To solve this issue, the judges ordered the Transport Department of the Delhi government to quickly open a special bank account that will be used only for giving out the subsidy money.
The PIL filed by Jan Seva Welfare Society raised serious concerns. Many people who bought electric vehicles in Delhi have not received the subsidy amount that was promised to them.
According to the 2020 EV Policy, the Delhi government aims to make 25% of all new vehicles in the city electric. To support this goal, the policy offers financial benefits, including subsidies for buyers of new EVs.
During the hearing, the Court was told that when someone buys an EV, they pay the full price to the dealer.
The subsidy is supposed to be paid back to the buyer later. However, the petitioner shared data obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, showing that over Rs 48 crore worth of subsidy is still pending and has not been paid by the Delhi government.
In response, the government’s lawyer informed the Court that more than 78,000 people have already received subsidies totaling over Rs 179 crore. He also said that a dedicated bank account is being created to fix the delay problem.
After hearing both sides, the Court gave clear instructions that the bank account must be set up immediately after getting approval from the concerned departments.
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The judges concluded with a strong message:
“We expect that the procedural delays shall immediately be addressed and after setting up the new bank account, the payment shall be expeditiously made.”
This ruling is expected to bring relief to many EV buyers in Delhi who have been waiting for their subsidy payments. It also sends a strong signal that government departments must act quickly and responsibly when it comes to public welfare schemes.
Case Title:
Jan Seva Welfare Society v Govt of NCT of Delhi and Anr
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