Air Pollution: Karnataka HC Directs Govt. To Ensure That Emission Testing Centers Follow Norms

Karnataka High Court has directed the State government to ensure that vehicle emission testing centers in the state don't indulge in acts of illegality or irregularity, in issuing certificates, as they played an important role in controlling 'Air pollution' emanating from vehicles.

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Mohammad Nawaz disposed off a public interest litigation filed by E N Raghavenra and M B Nagaraja. The petition filed in 2017, had highlighted the issue of emission testing centers indulging in irregularities in checking emission levels, thereby, giving a go to the set pollution norms.

Responding to the petition, the State Transport department filed a status report in court indicating that criminal cases were registered against nine emission testing centers found in violation of norms and licenses of six centers were cancelled. The report stated that there were a total of 894 emission testing centers in state and 395 were in Bengaluru city. Last year, 650 centers were checked and action was initiated against 84. While 244 were checked this year and penal action was taken against 46 centers, found to be violating norms set under the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Rules. Further, it was said in the report that 1,020, centers were functioning in the state at present and all of them are computerized and were following proper procedure.