Delhi HC directs Delhi Govt to consider representation on challenge to Odd Even Scheme

The Delhi High Court today directed the Delhi Government to consider as representations a batch of public interest litigations challenging the Odd-Even Scheme, which is slated to be enforced in the National Capital starting November 4, 2019..While disposing of the petitions, a Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and C Hari Shankar directed the Delhi Government to consider the representations on or before November 5 in accordance with the existing laws and policy..The Court also refused to pass any stay on the scheme..The petition preferred by petitioner in person, Advocate Shashwat Bhardwaj, claimed that the scheme was in blatant violation of the fundamental right guaranteed by Article 14 of the Constitution of India..The petitioner contended that the reason behind the exemption for only women was vague, mischievous and misconceived..Filed through Advocate Akhil Sachar, the petition by one Santosh Gupta argued that there was no rationale behind the non-exemption of CNG vehicle for this term of Odd-Even and the scheme was arbitrary..The third petition by petitioner in person Sanjiv Kumar also contended that the Odd-Even Scheme Violated Article 19(1)(g), 14, 15 of Constitution of India as it was arbitrary, illogical, done capriciously in an unreasonable manner without adequately determining principle cause and remedy. It also argued that the Scheme was solely for vote bank politics in the guise of curbing pollution.