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SC rejects car-makers' plea for extending Euro deadline

The Supreme Court today refused to extend the time limits fixed by it earlier for the introduction of Euro I and Euro II emission norms for the registration of private non commercial vehicles in the National Capital Region.

The three-judge bench of Chief Justice A S Anand, Justice B N Kirpal and Justice V N Khare, after hearing submissions from counsels representing various automobile manufacturers and the Union government, said that it would however clarify certain aspects of its April 29 order, including on cars being run on compressed natural gas or CNG fuel.

The court order came on eight interlocutory applications filed among others by Maruti Udyog Limited, Hindustan Motors, the Maruti Car Dealers Association and the Association of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.

By its April 29 order the court had directed that no private non commercial vehicle that is not compliant with Euro II norms would be registered in the NCR from April 1, 2000.

The order also said that only 260 diesel-run and and 1,250 petrol-run cars with Euro I norms would be registered every month from June 1,1999 till March 31, 2000 in the NCR.

Earlier, additional solicitor general Kirit Raval submitted that there was nothing called Euro I norms in India and the government had notified India-2000 norms which were same as Euro II norms.

He said the government needed some time to provide a corresponding norm for Euro II and hence there should be relaxation in the time limit.

Raval contended that in the last week of April, many people had purchased cars and the registration of those cars was on hold, causing inconvenience to consumers. Everyone associated with the industry requires some time to implement the order, he added.

Senior counsel K K Venugopal for the Hindustan Motors submitted that the apex court order should not apply to vehicles running on CNG.

Arguing for MUL, he said that the Euro I norms introduction date should be extended to October 1, 1999 as without this, Maruti production would be severely affected.

The court said vehicles assembled in India are being sold in Europe conforming to Euro II norms but the same manufacturers are not bothered about India.

Arguing for the Indian Association of Automobile Manufacturers, senior counsel P P Rao pleaded for grant of a little more time to switch over to the new technology.

Senior counsel G L Sanghi appearing for another applicant said consumers who have already booked cars should be allowed to register them in the NCR.

UNI

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