Diesel Ban: Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Mercedes-Benz’s Plea

  • Aug 9, 2016
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Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud have agreed to hear the German carmaker's plea of lifting the ban on the sale of diesel cars in Delhi-NCR.

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLS

On June 29, 2016 the Honorary Supreme Court of India announced that the imposed ban on vehicles with diesel engines of 2000cc or more may be lifted if the car manufacturer is ready to pay a fixed environment cess. The court had asked the lawyers of the automotive companies to explore the prospect of charging a one-time cess, which can be applied at the time of vehicle registration.

Mercedes-Benz, the Stuttgart based automotive giant, is one of the many car makers who was affected by the diesel cars ban in Delhi-NCR region. It has now filed a plea in the Supreme Court to lift the ban. The German car maker is offering to pay 1 per cent of the ex-showroom price of the vehicle as the environment cess to the government on the sale of every car sale that has a diesel engine equal to or greater than 2000cc. Senior advocate Mohan Parasaran, representing Mercedes-Benz, stated the plea in the presence of a bench comprising of Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud. The matter is due for hearing on August 12, 2016.

Delhi air pollution

During the last hearing on July 4, 2016, the court had reserved its verdict after hearing a batch of pleas seeking modification on the diesel ban. The proposed modifications were for diesel powered SUVs and high-end cars with engine capacity in excess of 2000cc. The court stayed firm on its decision and kept the ban intact to stop further damage to one of the most dangerously polluted cities in the world.

In December 2015, the court had imposed the diesel ban in Delhi-NCR for a period of three months only. In addition, the odd-even rule was imposed by the Government of Delhi to help get the dangerously high air pollutants down in number. With no real impact in the air-quality, the court then extended the ban indefinitely. Several automakers and the Ministry of Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises have approached the Supreme Court seeking relaxation on the imposed ban. The court has yet to take its decision on any of those pleas.

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