Govt mandates vehicle owners to updatecontact details within 3 month
Failure to do so will deny the vehicle owners the right to renew pollution certificate, registration certificate (RC) and driving licence (DL) of their vehicles, said additional director general of police (traffic), Sudhanshu Kumar, at a press conference in Patna on Tuesday.
The ADG said the e-challan system approved by the Centre has also been implemented in Bihar. "The standard operating procedure (SOP) has been prepared for this.
The campaign of updating the database will be run for everyone once a year, keeping in view the possibility of frequent changes of cellphone number and address," he said.
It will be mandatory to pay the issued e-challan within 90 days. "If this is not done, the competent officer will electronically suspend the DL and RC after sending an alert notice to the vehicle owner 15 days in advance, he said.
The ADG said the challan has to be settled within the stipulated period.
He, however, clarified that only challans with stamping of time, place and date will be valid. "Challans made by taking photos from cellphones can be challenged before the competent officer," he said. "Challans will also be issued from body-worn cameras soon," he said.
Under the SOP, a dashboard will be created at the state and district level to monitor the e-challan. "If one is dissatisfied with the e-challan, the vehicle owner will be able to challenge it before the designated grievance redressal authority within 30 days. In the event of retaining the notice or reducing the challan amount, it will be mandatory to pay within 15 days," he said and added that the vehicle owners will be informed about e-challan through SMS, WhatsApp and e-mail within three days and physically within 15 days.
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Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
‘Scientific study needed': Delhi government moves SC, seeks review of blanket ban on old vehicles
The Delhi government has approached the Supreme Court seeking a review of its order imposing a blanket ban on the plying of petrol vehicles aged above 15 years and diesel vehicles aged above 10 years of all categories across the National Capital Region (NCR). In its application dated July 25, the Rekha Gupta government has argued that 'the road-worthiness of a vehicle is a technical and scientific issue that must be linked to actual emissions as tested and recorded by mechanisms as set out under the Motor Vehicles Act, the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, etc., as opposed to blanket ban on the basis of age which is unlinked to actual emissions'. The state said that the ban on the plying of the said vehicles in the last seven years, 'though undoubtedly salutary in aim was observed to have caused numerous practical hardships to the citizens of Delhi, which today, in light of the advancements in technology and enforcement now prima facie appear to outweigh the prudence and feasibility of continuance of the said ban'. The plea further urged the court to direct the Centre or the Commission on Air Quality Management (CAQM) 'to carry out a suitable broad based, scientific study on the need for continuance of' the complete ban imposed by the Supreme Court's October 29, 2018, order. The Delhi government said that in its considered view, 'the significant improvements in Pollution Under Control (PUC) technology, increased coverage of PUC testing, stricter monitoring of emission standards, transitioning over to Bharat Stage VI engines and various other measures' that have been implemented since the Supreme Court order 'suitably address the concerns that impelled' the apex court to pass such a judgment. 'It is the view of the State Government that there is great need for a graded, balanced and technology driven regime to handle vehicular pollution and that instead of an age-based blanket ban, a scientific, data-driven framework should be developed that considers all relevant indicators to ascertain individual vehicular pollution, for example but not limited to: (i) Actual emission, (ii) Actual mileage, (iii) regular and period vehicle fitness tests and (iv) best available retrofitting options (CNG/electric conversions),' the application stated. The plea added that 'a balanced policy would ensure not only the protection of the environment through the phasing out of polluting vehicles, but would also preserve the rights of the responsible vehicle owners'. The government said the complete ban order 'was originally passed as an emergency measure during a period when Bharat Stage IV (BS-IV) emission standards were in force and the migration to Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI), which has much stricter and advanced norms, had not yet commenced.' It added, 'However, it is submitted that to tackle the issue of pollution in the NCR region, a comprehensive policy is required which gives vehicle fitness based on the actual emission levels of an individual vehicle as per scientific methods rather than implementing a blanket ban based on solely the age of the vehicle.' The government said that significant technological, legal, and environmental developments have taken place since 2018, which warrant a 're-examination of this decision' by an expert body to form a structured and graded plan to tackle pollution. The application further said that there are various sources of air pollution in Delhi, apart from vehicular pollution, and that vehicular emissions constitute only one of several sources of air pollution in Delhi NCR. 'Other significant contributors include: stubble burning, biomass burning, road and construction dust, industrial emissions, weather and meteorological factors. As per the Commission for Air Quality Management, the percentage contribution of the said sources to the air quality of Delhi varies significantly depending on the season,' the plea stated. The Delhi government said that CAQM in its 'Policy to Curb Air Pollution in the National Capital Region' adopted in July 2022 has stated, 'These studies show that there is considerable seasonal variation in the relative contribution of pollution sources between winter and simmer', and contended that 'thus…a scientific analysis, and cost benefit analysis of phasing out vehicles on the basis of age would be an appropriate approach'. The state said that since the issue of Delhi's air quality is not confined solely to the National Capital Territory but rather to the broader National Capital Region, it is respectfully submitted that 'it would be appropriate if suitable scientific studies on the feasibility, desirability and efficacy of continuing the said ban are carried out at the level of the Union of India or the Commission for Air Quality Management'. Ananthakrishnan G. is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express. He has been in the field for over 23 years, kicking off his journalism career as a freelancer in the late nineties with bylines in The Hindu. A graduate in law, he practised in the District judiciary in Kerala for about two years before switching to journalism. His first permanent assignment was with The Press Trust of India in Delhi where he was assigned to cover the lower courts and various commissions of inquiry. He reported from the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India during his first stint with The Indian Express in 2005-2006. Currently, in his second stint with The Indian Express, he reports from the Supreme Court and writes on topics related to law and the administration of justice. Legal reporting is his forte though he has extensive experience in political and community reporting too, having spent a decade as Kerala state correspondent, The Times of India and The Telegraph. He is a stickler for facts and has several impactful stories to his credit. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
‘No scientific logic behind end-of-life vehicles ban', Delhi government tells SC
The Delhi government on Friday moved the Supreme Court challenging the blanket ban on diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years, arguing the restrictions lack scientific backing. The challenge comes after the BJP government faced widespread criticism earlier this month for implementing a CAQM directive denying fuel to end-of-life vehicles from July 1. (Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO) The application, likely to be heard by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Bhushan R Gavai on Monday, seeks recall of the court's October 29, 2018 order that upheld the National Green Tribunal's initial directive. The challenge comes after the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Delhi government faced widespread criticism earlier this month for implementing a Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) directive denying fuel to end-of-life vehicles from July 1. The controversial measure was subsequently put on hold following public backlash. The government's fresh application centres on significant technological advances since 2018, particularly the mandatory implementation of Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission standards in April 2020 and what it said was stricter pollution control certificate (PUC) checks. Centre's application to be heard by Supreme Court on July 28(HT) 'To tackle pollution in the NCR region, a comprehensive policy is required which gives vehicle fitness based on actual emission levels of individual vehicles as per scientific methods rather than implementing a blanket ban based solely on age,' the application states. The government contended that BS-VI engines emit 80% less particulate matter and 70% less nitrogen oxides compared to BS-IV vehicles that were standard when the original order was passed. 'If the order of this court dated October 29, 2018 continues to operate, it will result in road worthy, non-polluting BS-VI vehicles also going off the roads in a matter of a few years without a scientific basis for the same…there does not appear to be a scientific basis for mandating that even BS-IV vehicles which meet PUC norms should be taken off the roads in Delhi NCR. These are serious issues which may require a fresh scientific evaluation,' the application said. The administration also raised concerns about the policy's disproportionate impact on middle-class families, arguing that well-maintained vehicles with lower annual mileage contribute negligibly to overall emissions. 'The directive to off-road vehicles purely on age basis disproportionately affects middle-class citizens whose vehicles are less used, well-maintained, and compliant to fuel norms,' the application argues. The government also highlighted the policy's negative effect on the second-hand car market, which provides affordable transport options for lower-income families. The plea seeks a comprehensive study by the Centre and CAQM to assess the actual environmental benefits of age-based restrictions versus emission-based criteria. 'No data-based evidence currently exists to establish that all diesel vehicles older than 10 years or petrol vehicles older than 15 years are uniformly polluting,' the government argued, adding that no impact analysis or cost-benefit study has demonstrated significant air quality improvements from the blanket ban. The application also notes other pollution control measures implemented since 2018, including increased challans for pollution certificate violations, expanded public transport, electric vehicle introduction, and the extended Delhi Metro network. The court will also hear separate applications by Delhi-NCR Transport Ekta Manch and private citizen Arun Kumar Singh challenging the overage vehicle ban. Environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the government has urged the top court to reconsider its 2018 order 'as the situation is different in 2025.' 'Our goal is to protect public health while also respecting the rights of responsible vehicle owners,' Sirsa said. The controversy extends beyond Delhi's territorial limits to the broader National Capital Region, encompassing districts in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, where similar restrictions apply.
Mint
2 days ago
- Mint
That rust bucket on wheels may cost a fortune in insurance, re-registration
The Centre is weighing higher fees to insure and re-register older cars, two officials aware of the discussions said, targeting so-called end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) that guzzle fuel and dirty the air. The ministries of road transport and finance are studying the proposal to discourage older vehicles by increasing their ownership costs, the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. Officials met industry executives earlier this month to discuss the matter. 'There were consultations held with the industry in July, and the government was of the view that end-of-life vehicles should be disincentivized. There is a consideration that insurance costs for such vehicles can be increased. Also, higher re-registration costs may also help in this regard," one of the two officials said on the condition of anonymity. Queries emailed to the two ministries remained unanswered. Currently, diesel vehicles in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) are considered end-of-life after 10 years, and petrol vehicles after 15 years. For the rest of India, the lifespan is 15 years for transport vehicles and 20 years for non-transport vehicles. The finance ministry is expected to frame a model that will allow insurers to charge more for ELVs based on their age, condition and emissions, the people cited above said. Besides, fees to re-register vehicles could be set at or above the cost of registering a new vehicle, with these changes potentially incorporated into the Central Motor Vehicle Rules. 'Under the plan, while vehicle scrappage would be the preferred route for old, unfit and polluting vehicles, those looking to extend the life after getting their vehicles tested would also be discouraged, with higher insurance and registration costs," the second official added. Carbon dioxide from vehicle exhaust makes up about 12% of air pollution, according to the International Energy Agency. The share is significantly higher in large cities like New Delhi, where air quality frequently reaches "severe" levels. Auto exhaust also includes harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. The Delhi government recently attempted to enforce the rule by refusing fuel for ELVs, but the decision was deferred to November after a public outcry. Private sector insurers expressed support for higher premiums on older, polluting vehicles, citing both public health and mechanical failure risks. "Pollution from ELVs contributes to respiratory illnesses like asthma, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)," said Arti Mulik, chief technical Officer at Universal Sompo General Insurance. "As insurers, we have a social responsibility to support the environment and public health." Mulik added that higher premiums could "reflect on their higher risk of mechanical failures, breakdowns and accidents" and encourage a shift towards cleaner alternatives like electric or compressed natural gas vehicles.
