New Delhi: More than a week after imposing a blanket ban on plying of diesel run taxis in Delhi and National Capital Region, the Supreme Court has agreed to relax its order and allow taxis with all India permits which ferry BPO employees in the region.
The top court, however, insisted on a concrete road map for phasing out diesel taxis from the NCR, according to The Times of India.
The top court also observed that the ban on registration of diesel vehicles above 2000cc will continue in Delhi until further orders
Centre on Thursday approached the apex Court to reconsider the blanket ban, saying it will adversely impact the flourishing industry of BPOs which may choose to go out of India.
"The BPO industry would be affected as diesel taxis had been used for pick and drop facilities of the employees. It will affect the economy," Solicitor General Ranjith Kumar told a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur.
"Due to the inconvenience caused to the BPO employees, the companies may choose to move out of the country which will be affecting the economy," the Solicitor General said.
The apex court then asked the counsel to give the road map on the issue which would be deliberated upon on May 9, the next date of hearing.
On April 30, the Supreme Court had refused to give more time to cab operators to convert their vehicles to CNG and put a ban on diesel cabs in the city from May 1, a decision that affected over 27,000 taxis.
The refusal meant diesel-fuelled taxis cannot ply on the streets of Delhi from 1 May.
The diesel ban, created an unprecxedented situation as thousands of taxi drivers took to road to protest against the verdicts and jammed several parts of Delhi.
This case, filed before the apex court in 1985, has been responsible for several recent curbs including the green cess on trucks entering Delhi and ban on sale of luxury cars .
The case was also the likely reason for the government to decide to shift to the toughest emission standards of BS-VI from the current BS-IV by 2020, skipping an intermediate level . A day before the government announced this move, the court enquired about the same. The court continued the ban on luxury vehicles until further orders.
