Centre moves SC for relaxing ban on diesel cabs

New Delhi: Diesel cab owners stage a demonstration against Supreme Court ban on diesel vehicles in New Delhi (File Photo: IANS)

New Delhi – The central government on Tuesday urged the Supreme Court to relax its ban on diesel taxis in Delhi and the National Capital Region as it was adversely affecting the foreign exchange-earning BPOs which use these vehicles to ferry their employees.

Seeking modification of the apex court’s April 30 order, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told the bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice R. Banumathi that it was not possible for the BPOs to deploy CNG buses as the locations of the staff, many among them women, varied widely.

He also informed the Supreme Court of the business dimension, saying the BPOs bring in foreign exchange amounting to one billion dollar per year, which could be adversely affected if the processing units move out of the country.

“Business is likely to be affected as the BPOs will move out of the country,” the solicitor general said.

Chief Justice Thakur then asked the solicitor general to suggest some remedial measures to address the problem. To this, Ranjit Kumar said the central government will do so before Monday when the Delhi government’s plea on the issue will come up for hearing.

Meanwhile, the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) informed the apex court that the representatives of the Delhi government and the taxi unions had met its officials on Wednesday and it was agreed that registration of diesel taxis operating under All-India Tourist permits shall be stopped.

EPCA counsel Aprajita Singh told the court that it was also agreed to chalk out a plan to phase out the diesel taxis operating in the city within five years by not renewing their permits.

Aprajita Singh further said diesel taxis with all-India permits are operating in the national capital in violation of their permit conditions.