SC refuses to stay HC order on phasing-out old com vehicles

New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Monday
refused to extend the July 31 deadline for phasing out
15-year-old diesel-powered commercial vehicles from east
Indian city of Kolkata, saying any order at this stage would
cause further chaos and confusion.

"At this stage any extension of deadline would cause
further chaos and confusion," a Bench comprising Chief Justice
K G Balakrishnan and Justice B S Chauhan said refusing to stay
the Calcutta High Court order directing the phase-out of such
commercial vehicles, the deadline for which was July 31.

The Bench issued notice to the West Bengal Government
on the petition filed by transporters' associations
challenging the notification issued by it for phasing out old
commercial vehicles.

The apex court also sought response from citizens'
association Howrah Ganatantrik Nagarik Samity and others on
whose PIL, the High Court had passed the directions.

The apex court had on August four also declined to
stay the High Court directions.

The transporters' association Bengal Bus Syndicate and
others contended that the state government did not have the
power to issue a notification for phasing out 15-year-old
vehicles as it is vested with the Centre.

The High Court had on March 17 directed that
15-year-old diesel-powered buses, taxis and two-stroke autos
causing pollution must go off the roads in the metropolis by
July 31.

The state government had in July last year sought time
from the High Court to allow autorickshaws to go off the roads
from January one this year while 15-year-old buses and taxis
were to be phased out by March 31. The High Court had
converted the timeframe given by the government into an order.
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