Supreme Court banned all diesel cabs in NCR-Delhi from May 1

The Supreme Court of India on 30 April 2016 decided against extending the deadline for phasing out diesel cabs in National Capital Region (NCR). It ordered the diesel cabs to go off the roads from 1 May 2016.

The earlier deadline for phasing out diesel cabs was 1 April 2016, but it was extended for a month.

The earlier extension was given so that private cab aggregators could switch to compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles by 1 May 2016.

However, the Supreme Court allowed Delhi Police and Delhi Jal Board to buy and register the new diesel-run vehicles of 2000 cc engine capacity and above for transportation of undertrial prisoners, arms and ammunition and supply of water.

It had stopped sale of diesel SUVs and luxury cars with more than 2000 cc engine capacity in the national capital in 2015.

However, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur asked Delhi Police to pay 30 percent of the real value of the vehicle to be purchased by it as Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) or green cess as a pre-condition for their registration with the transport department.

The bench, also comprising Justices AK Sikri and R Banumathi, exempted Delhi Jal Board (DJB) from paying ECC on the ground that around 250 water tankers would be supplying water to the citizens of the city.

The court allowed the plea of police and allowed to register on payment of ECC.

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