NGT denies 5-year extension for registration of armoured vehicles used for security of Prime Minister

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently denied a five-year extension for the registration of three specialised armoured vehicles used by the Special Protection Group (SPG) for the security of the Prime Minister of India. [Vardhaman Kaushik v. Union of India and Ors.].A coram of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and member Dr A Senthil Vel observed that in light of Supreme Court directives, diesel vehicles could not be permitted to ply in the National Capital Region (NCR) for more than ten years."Undisputedly, the above three SPVs will be completing the period of 10 years from the date of registration in December, 2024 and they are the Diesel Vehicles, therefore, in terms of the direction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 29.10.2018, such vehicles being Diesel Vehicles cannot be permitted to ply in NCR on completion of 10 years," the order dated March 22 stated..The NGT was hearing a miscellaneous application filed by the SPG in an original application that was earlier disposed of. The SPG had approached the NCR transport department to allow five-year extensions for the registration of three of its specialized armored vehicles, but was denied the same. Aggrieved, it moved the Tribunal.The vehicles were initially registered in December 2014, till 2029. However, in light of the Supreme Court's directions in MC Mehta v. Union of India on October 29, 2018, they will stand de-registered in December 2024, upon the completion of 10 years of registration.The SPG informed the Tribunal that the vehicles, which were not easily available in the market, had in nine years covered only 6,000km, 9,000km, and 15,000 km respectively..The Transport Department of NCT Delhi highlighted that the NGT in the original application had prescribed 10 years as the maximum age for diesel cars to ply in Delhi, a decision that was endorsed by the Supreme Court in MC Mehta.It further stated that relaxation was allowed in cases of Bharat Stage (BS) IV emission norms vehicles. However, the vehicles in question conformed to BS-III standards. It also questioned a Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notification relied upon by the SPG, stating that it applied to states other than Delhi NCR, as it made no mention of the Supreme Court order. .The Tribunal took note of its own directives and those of the Supreme Court to conclude that there was no error in the Transport Department's decision to refuse extension of registration.It acknowledged the fact that the vehicles were not normally available in the market and were used very less, but refused to grant the prayer in view of the Supreme Court order..[Read Order]