Odd-even arbitrary, illegal, say lawyers
It is evident that the said policy has been passed in haste without carrying out studies/ research in relation to the work schedule of professionals.
NEW DELHI: A petition filed in the Delhi high court on Monday sought exemption for advocates from the odd-even restrictions.
The petition filed by advocate Rajiv Khosla, president, Delhi High Court Bar Association, alleged that the April 11 notification by the Delhi government on the fortnight-long odd-even scheme, which came into force from April 15, was “arbitrary, illegal, unreasonable and against the spirit of the Constitution”.
The notification is hampering the legal fraternity in carrying out its professional responsibility of practicing as an advocate in different courts and tribunals in Delhi, the petition said.
“It is evident that the said policy has been passed in haste without carrying out studies/ research in relation to the work schedule of professionals,” Khosla said.
He said “lawyers are entitled to be exempted from the application of the odd-even scheme as the lawyers assist the courts in guarding the personal liberty and civil rights of citizens...” RAJIV KHOSLA, president, Delhi High Court Bar Association
The petition also claimed that the Delhi government “cannot arbitrarily” fix a fine of `2,000 without appropriate amendments in the Motor Vehicles Act 1988.
It said that data on air pollution during the first phase of odd-even scheme in January should have been analysed by a government-appointed agency before starting the second phase.
The petition has sought quashing of the April 4 notification. It has asked the court to direct the government to form an expert committee to frame a policy after inviting suggestions from the public including the associations of various professional bodies.
a resident of Sainik Farms. His son studies at Amity International School
“For Monday I had an evennumbered car but I don’t know what I will do on odddays. My wife went with the driver to pick my son. Getting public transport at Sainik Farms is next to impossible.”
a resident of Vasant Kunj. Her daughters study at Sanskriti School in Chanakyapuri
“The only option left is to book taxis to pick my daughters from the school on odd days. It is an extra cost as for few days now I also have to pay for the taxi.”
lives in Shalimar Bagh. She had to come to St Columba’s School at Gole Market
“I have an odd-numbered car and my husband had taken the even-numbered car to office. I took an auto from Shalimar Bagh to Rohini and then with the car came to get him. It was torturous in this weather.”
a resident of Uday Park. Her child studies at Sanskriti School
“I borrowed my sister’s evennumbered car. I don’t drive myself, but I am a single mother. There is no one else to pick my daughter. If this scheme becomes permanent then I might buy a new car.”