Over 1.15L vehicles challaned for no PUC certificate: HC told

The traffic police today told the Delhi High Court that over 1.15 lakh challans were issued against vehicles found plying on the national capital's roads without a pollution under control (PUC) certificate in the past 11 months.

The submission was made before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar which had a month back asked the agency how many vehicles it has checked and fined for causing pollution in the city.

Appearing for the traffic police, Delhi government's additional standing counsel Naushad Ahmed Khan told the bench that the agency was taking action against motorists who were not carrying PUC certificate as required under the Motor Vehicle Act.
 

He said that last year, 1,01,131 motorists were prosecuted by the traffic police for not having the PUC certificates and this year till November 28, the number has reached 1,15,826.

The bench asked him to file an affidavit stating these facts and listed the matter for further hearing on February 5.

The court had on October 31 sought an action plan from the authorities on how they intended to ensure compliance of the law and rules regarding polluting vehicles.

It had said if the authorities were able to address the issue of air pollution by inspecting vehicular emission, "then air quality in the city would improve positively".

The bench had also sought information regarding vehicle inspections carried out by cops in areas falling under the jurisdiction of the police stations of Daryaganj, Dhaula Kuan, ISBT, Anand Vihar, Nehru Place, Raja Garden, Nangloi, Laxmi Nagar and Mukarba Chowk.

The court was hearing a plea by an NGO, Campaign for People Participation in Development Planning, alleging that the rise in vehicle-generated air pollution in Delhi was due to "non-enforcement and non-implementation" of the 1988 Motor Vehicle Act, which prescribes punishment for driving a polluting vehicle.

Advocate Anil Aggarwal, who has filed the petition, has contended that the Motor Vehicle Rules empowered a police officer above the rank of Sub-Inspector and a transport department official above the rank of Inspector to inspect vehicles and impose fines.