The National Green Tribunal-NGT declined to grant a 5-year extension for the registration of three specialized armoured vehicles utilized by the Special Protection Group (SPG) to safeguard the Prime Minister-PM of India. The Tribunal cited Supreme Court directives, highlighting that diesel vehicles exceeding 10-years cannot be allowed to operate in the National Capital Region.
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NEW DELHI: At the National Green Tribunal (NGT), a request for a five-year registration extension for three specialized armoured vehicles utilized by the Special Protection Group (SPG) for the PM’s security was turned down. This decision underscores the strict adherence to environmental norms and Supreme Court directives concerning diesel vehicles in the National Capital Region (NCR).
The tribunal, led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and member Dr. A Senthil Vel, referenced a Supreme Court order from October 29, 2018, which imposes a restriction on the operation of diesel vehicles in the NCR beyond a decade of their registration. The bench noted,
“Undisputedly, the above three SPVs will be completing the period of 10 years from the date of registration in December, 2024 and they are the Diesel Vehicles, therefore, in terms of the direction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 29.10.2018, such vehicles being Diesel Vehicles cannot be permitted to ply in NCR on completion of 10 years.”
This ruling was in response to a miscellaneous application by the SPG, following an earlier resolution of an original application. The SPG’s plea came after the NCR transport department declined their request for an extension on the registration of these three armoured vehicles, prompting the SPG to seek redress from the NGT.
Originally registered in December 2014, these vehicles faced de-registration by December 2024, adhering to the decade-long limit set forth by the Supreme Court’s judgment in MC Mehta v. Union of India. The SPG presented a case highlighting the vehicles’ limited use — with recorded distances of only 6,000 km, 9,000 km, and 15,000 km over nine years — and their scarcity in the market as arguments for the extension.
The Transport Department of the NCT of Delhi reinforced the NGT’s and Supreme Court’s directives limiting diesel vehicles’ operational lifespan in Delhi to 10 years. The department also mentioned an allowance for extensions for vehicles meeting Bharat Stage (BS) IV emission norms, which did not apply to the SPG’s vehicles that were compliant with BS-III standards.
Further complicating the SPG’s position was the department’s dismissal of a Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notification cited by the SPG, pointing out that it did not apply to the Delhi NCR or reference the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Despite acknowledging the specialized nature and minimal usage of these vehicles, the NGT sided with the Transport Department’s stance, reflecting a commitment to environmental regulations and judicial precedents.
This decision not only emphasizes the enforcement of laws aimed at curbing pollution but also presents a scenario where security protocols intersect with environmental considerations, highlighting the complexities of governance in balancing such priorities.
CASE TITLE:
Vardhaman Kaushik v. Union of India and Ors.
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