Delhi Air Pollution : Supreme Court Expresses Dissatisfaction With Enforcement Of Ban On Trucks, Appoints 13 Lawyers To Inspect Entry Points

In the Delhi air pollution matter, the Supreme Court on Friday (November 22) appointed 13 members of the Bar as court commissioners to visit the entry points to Delhi and verify whether entry of trucks is being stopped.

As per the GRAP-IV restrictions imposed by the Commission for Air Quality Management, the entry of trucks is prohibited to Delhi-NCR to combat air pollution.

The Court however expressed dissatisfaction with the compliance. "So far as complaince is concerned, we are not satisfied. Government has not stated clearly as to at how many entry points there are officers present to comply with measures of STAGE IV," observed the bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih.

Amicus curiae Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh stated that there are 113 entry points but the counsel for the Delhi Government stated that vigil is maintained primarily at 13 major entry points. The Court observed that this meant that for the other 100 points,there is no restriction on vehicles which is banned under STAGE IV.

"We direct the Delhi Government and Delhi Police to ensure that checkposts are immediately set up at all 113 entry points," the bench ordered.

While appointing 13 Advocate Commissioners, the Court asked the Additional Solicitor General to forward their names to the Delhi Police Commissioner to facilitate their visit to the entry points. They can take photographs and file a report to the Court.

"Out of 113, almost 100 entry points are unmanned in the sense that there are nobody to check the entry of trucks, we asked members of the bar to go and check those points. We are happy to note that 13 young members of the bar have volunteered to act as commissioner of this court," the bench observed.

The direction was passed in the MC Mehta case in which the Court is monitoring the air quality of Delhi-NCR.

"As far as entry of trucks is concerned there is no implementation. 100 entry points are unmanned. There is no implementation of fireworks ban, construction nothing was being implemented. Somebody has to be answerable. The percentage of pollution caused by these trucks is a very large percentage. This is the look out of the police and the Delhi government," Justice Oka orally said during the hearing.

The bench will consider the matter again on November 25 to consider whether the GRAP-IV restrictions should be continued.

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