NGT junks petition against call to defer BS IV norms

The National Green Tribunal has dismissed a petition opposing the auto industry body, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers’ (SIAM) call to defer the new emission norms — which came into force from April 1 — for selling unsold stock of Bharat Stage (BS)-III compliant vehicles.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said there was nothing left in the petition as the Supreme Court had banned the sale and registration of non compliant vehicles.

“The counsel appearing for the applicant submits that in view of the order passed by the Supreme Court, this application has become infructuous,” the bench said on Monday.

On March 29, the apex court prohibited the registration of vehicles that do not meet BS-IV standards, saying the health of the people was “far, far more important than the commercial interests of the manufacturers”.

The NGT was hearing a plea filed by Dr RK Sharma, who said he was aggrieved by the conduct of SIAM for its call to defer the new norms and asking for more time to sell underlying stock of BS-III compliant vehicles.

The petitioner asked for directions that all types of vehicles, even those manufactured this year, should not be permitted to be sold and registered after April 1, 2017 unless they comply with the BS-IV standards.