M.C. MEHTA vs. UNION OF INDIA

1  IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION        WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 13029 OF 1985 M.C. Mehta           .…  Petitioner(s) Versus Union of India                   …. Respondent(s) With CA.No.8187/2019 & CA.Nos.3610­11/2019         O R D E R          C.A.Nos.3610­11/2019­New Delhi Municipal Council 1. In   this   appeal,   the   appellant   New   Delhi   Municipal Council   is   assailing   the   order   dated   18.12.2018   in OA.No.1047/2018 and the order dated 18.01.2019 passed on Review Application No.12/2019 in OA.No.1047/2018 by which   the   application   filed   by   the   appellant   seeking direction to the Transport Authority to register the water tanker/trucks for essential services was rejected.   In the pending appeal an application in I.A.No.61047/2020 is also filed   by   the   appellant   seeking   that   the   Transport Signature Not Verified Department of GNCTD be directed to register 20 number of Digitally signed by Sanjay Kumar Date: 2020.11.05 14:28:37 IST Reason: WP (C) No.13029/1985 2 BS­IV Compliant Diesel driven water tankers purchased by the appellant.           C.A.No.8187/2019 ­ Delhi Cantonment Board 2. This appeal is filed by the Delhi Cantonment Board assailing the order dated 22.07.2019 passed by the NGT in M.A.No.160/2019, MA.No.167/2019 and MA.No.171/2019 in OA.No.21/2014 dismissing the application filed by the appellant   seeking   to   direct   the   Transport   Department   to register the water tankers purchased by the appellant which are   BS­IV   Compliant   diesel   vehicles   purchased   on 31.10.2018. I.A.No.101010/2020 in WP (C) No.13029/1985  3. This   application   is   filed   by   the   applicant   Narbada Travels   seeking   directions   to   the   GNCTD   to   register   two TATA   LP   vehicles   purchased   by   the   applicant   prior   to 31.03.2020 and are BS­IV compliant. I.A.No.101018 in WP (C) No.13029/1985  4. This   application   is   filed   by   the   applicant   Mrs. Meenakshi Virmani seeking to direct GNCTD to register the WP (C) No.13029/1985 3 TATA LPO, 1613 Bus purchased by the applicant prior to 31.03.2020 and is BS­IV compliant. 5. The   above   appeals   and   applications   seeking   such direction for registration of the vehicles are filed in view of the   restrictions   stipulated   in   the   Petition   bearing   WP(C) No.13029/1985 titled  M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India and .   However, as and when the need for registration of Ors vehicle   arose,   applications   were   filed   before   this   Court. Since   applications   seeking   registration   of   three   types   of vehicles (a) CNG vehicles (b) BS­IV compliant vehicles and (c)   BS­VI   Compliant   vehicles,     being   used   for   essential public utility services were made, this Court by the order dated   18.09.2020   directed   the   Environment   Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) to scrutinize the pending cases and submit a report to this Court so that a common order could be passed. 6. In view of such direction the EPCA has filed its detailed report No.116 dated 28.09.2020.   In the said report the EPCA  has   referred   to   the   pending   applications   inter alia relating   to   the   appellants   herein   namely,   New   Delhi WP (C) No.13029/1985 4 Municipal   Council   (CA.No.3610­11/2019   and IA.No.61047/2020) and Delhi Cantonment Board (C.A.No. 8187/2020).   While   taking   note   of   the   applications,   the EPCA has referred to the details of the vehicles, fuel type, date of purchase, the details relating to the uploading in VAHAN   Portal   for   temporary   registration/reasons   for   not uploading and as to whether or not the CNG/petrol variant of   such   vehicles   was   available   at   the   time   of   purchase. Keeping in view the said details and also on taking note of the various orders passed by the NGT and this Court the EPCA   has   made   its   recommendations,   which   read   as hereunder: “Based on these fasts, EPCA would recommend the   following   directions,   which   the   Hon’ble Supreme Court may consider: 1.  BS­IV CNG vehicles may be registered, but only if they have been uploaded in the VAHAN database   prior   to   31.03.2020   and   have   got temporary registration. 2.   BS­IV diesel light and heavy­duty vehicles used   for   public   utility   and   essential   services, where CNG­petrol variants are not available and which   had   pending   applications   before   the Hon’ble   Supreme   Court   may   be   registered   as detailed in the list A above and summary below. WP (C) No.13029/1985 5   BS­IV diesel light­heavy duty vehicles to be allowed registration

3. BS­III non­road category of vehicles (as per the current applicable emission norm as notified by MoRTH), registered under the category of CEV­ TREM may be permitted to be registered. 4.   BS­VI   diesel   light   and   heavy­duty   vehicles used   for   public   utility   and   essential   services may be permitted to be registered.” 7. Considering the above recommendations and on taking note of the fact that the water tankers are used for the public utility and essential services the prayer made in the appeals bearing C.A.No.3610­11/2019, C.A. No.8187/2019 and the application bearing IA.No.61047/2020 are liable to be allowed. IA.No.101010/2020   and   101008/2020   in   WP(C) No.13029/1985: 8. As noted above the details of the purchase made by the applicants   in   these   applications   was   not   a   part   of   the consideration   made   by   the   EPCA   and   as   such   is   not contained   in   the   report.     However,   the   yardstick   as WP (C) No.13029/1985 6 applicable to all other cases will have to be made applicable herein.   In that view a perusal of the details indicated in IA.No.101010/2020   would   disclose   that   the   two   vehicles were purchased on 07.03.2020 and 11.03.2020 respectively. In respect of the two vehicles namely TATA LP909/49WB and TATA LPO 1613, the date of temporary registration and the   display   on   the   e.Vahan   portal   is   11.03.2020     and 13.03.2020 respectively.   9. In IA.No.101018/2020 the vehicle TATA LPO 1613 was purchased on 11.03.2020 and the temporary registration was on the same date.  It is shown in the e.Vahan portal on 13.03.2020.   That apart the vehicles involved in these two applications are CNG variant and BS­IV Compliant.   This Court   in   the   order   dated   18.09.2020   had   observed   that insofar as CNG vehicles are concerned there cannot be any valid objection for the  registration of the  vehicles as the emission from these vehicles is within the limits and had directed the vehicles to be registered.   Hence both these applications are liable to be allowed.   I.A.No.108186 OF 2020       i n WP(C) No.13029/1985 Indian Oil Skytanking Pvt. Ltd. WP (C) No.13029/1985 7 10. The applicant M/s Indian Oil Skytanking Private Ltd. has   filed  the   instant  application  seeking  direction  to  the Transport   Authority   (Govt   of   NCT   of   Delhi)   to   register   3 (Three)   BS­IV   Hydrant   Dispensers   to   be   used   for   the purpose of delivering Aviation Turbine Fuel to the aircraft tanks   at  Indira  Gandhi   International   Airport,   New  Delhi. The details of vehicles are as hereinbelow;

11.    The applicant, a Joint Venture Company promoted by M/s   Indian   Oil   Corporation   Ltd.   and   M/s   Skytanking Holding   GmbH,   Germany   is   engaged   in   the   business   of handling Jet Fuel for Airlines on behalf of the suppliers, Operations and Maintenance of Fuel Farm and into Plane services for all national and international airlines operating in   Delhi,   Mumbai   and   Bangalore   Airports.     To   engage themselves   in   the   said   business   the   applicant   has purchased three goods carriers/trucks on 30.08.2018 and WP (C) No.13029/1985 8 have   obtained   temporary   registration   certificates   on 30.08.2018.     The   applicant   contends   that   the   National Green Tribunal had directed conversion of buses, coaches and other vehicles plying at the airport to CNG fuel within six months from the order dated 24.11.2017.   This Court while modifying the  said order of NGT through its order dated 06.08.2018 had removed the words “other vehicles”. In so far as the vehicles purchased by the applicant, it is pointed  out  that since they  are designed to carry highly inflammable   product,   CNG   and   petrol   fuelled   engines cannot be used as per the norms of Government.  The said Hydrant Dispensers are heavy duty vehicles and are diesel powered engines so that they can generate sufficient torque for the vehicles to supply required power for its multiple functions.  It is also stated that the sophisticated and costly equipments are mounted on BS IV compliant ICV of SML ISUZU   Limited.     In   that   light   the   applicant   is   seeking registration of the vehicles.   12.    Having taken note of the averments contained in the application, it is also to be noted that as indicated above WP (C) No.13029/1985 9 this Court had through its order dated 18.09.2020 directed the   Environment   Pollution   Control   Authority   (EPCA)   to submit   a   report   after   scrutinizing   the   pending   cases. Though the said report related to the vehicles purchased and awaiting registration in respect of certain other public utility services, the consideration made therein would be relevant in this case.   In that regard, as noted the EPCA, inter   alia   has   recommended   that   BS­IV   diesel,   light   and heavy­duty   vehicles   used   for   public   utility   and   essential services, where CNG petrol variant are not available and which had pending application before the Supreme Court may be registered.  As noted, though the instant application was not pending at that stage, the nature of activity of the applicant   is   for   public   utility   and   essential   services. Peculiar to its nature of activity, no other vehicle can be used, and the vehicle had been purchased on 30.08.2018, much prior to the cut­off date.  The fact that the vehicles are used   for   carrying   inflammable   product,   in   which circumstance a diesel vehicle is to be used cannot be lost sight of.  These vehicles are also BS­IV compliant which was WP (C) No.13029/1985 10 the norm as on the date of purchase.  Hence, an exception is required to be made.          13.     In view of the above:  (1) CA.No.3610­11/2019 and IA.No.61047/2020 are allowed.     The   Transport   Department   GNCTD   is directed to register 20 numbers of BS­IV Compliant water tankers, the details of which is referred to in the report dated 28.09.2020 of EPCA   (2) C.A.No.8187/2019 is allowed.   The GNCTD is directed   to   register   two   water   tanker   vehicles,   the details of which is indicated in the report of EPCA. (3) IA.No.101010 /2020 is allowed. The GNCTD is directed   to   register   two   vehicles   detailed   in   the application. (4) IA.No.101018/2020 is allowed.   The GNCTD is directed   to   register   the   vehicle   detailed   in   the application. (5)   I.A.No.108186/2020 is allowed.   The GNCTD is directed   to   register   3   Diesel   BS­IV   Commercial WP (C) No.13029/1985 11 Vehicles   of   SML   ISUZU   make   detailed   in   the application. (6)   No costs. ..…………....................CJI.       (S. A. Bobde) …..…………....................J. (A. S. Bopanna) ..…..………......................J       (V. Ramasubramanian) NOVEMBER 02 , 2020 NEW DELHI WP (C) No.13029/1985