The case was presented before a bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih, who raised concerns that the SPG had sought the NGT’s approval for vehicle registration rather than the Supreme Court, especially considering the ongoing monitoring of air pollution in Delhi under the MC Mehta case.
NEW DELHI: On December 13, the Special Protection Group (SPG) approached the Supreme Court, challenging a National Green Tribunal (NGT) ruling that denied their request for a five-year extension on the registration of three specialized armoured vehicles.
The case was presented before a bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih, who raised concerns that the SPG had sought the NGT’s approval for vehicle registration rather than the Supreme Court, especially considering the ongoing monitoring of air pollution in Delhi under the MC Mehta case.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the SPG, requested the court to urgently hear the matter, emphasizing the importance of these vehicles. He argued that they are critical to the SPG’s technical logistics and security operations.
The SPG, established in 1985, is tasked with providing close protection to the Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers, and their immediate family members.
The bench treated the matter as an interlocutory application and scheduled a hearing for December 16.
On March 22, the NGT had declined to grant the extension, stating that diesel vehicles cannot operate in the NCR area once they exceed 10 years of age. The NGT acknowledged the special purpose of the vehicles, noting they are rarely used and essential for the security of the Prime Minister, but cited the Supreme Court’s October 29, 2018 order, which banned diesel vehicles older than 10 years in Delhi-NCR.
The NGT acknowledged that while these vehicles serve a special purpose and have been used infrequently, they could not be exempted from the 10-year limit imposed by the Supreme Court. The SPG, established in 1985, provides security to the Prime Minister, former prime ministers, and their immediate families.
