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Court is currently handling a batch of petitions challenging the seizure of cars by authorities for violating orders that prohibit the use of petrol vehicles over 15 years old and diesel vehicles over 10 years old
The Delhi High Court has directed the city government to provide an update within four weeks on the formulation and implementation of a policy for the release of seized end-of-life vehicles to their owners.
Justice Jasmeet Singh expressed concern about the absence of a policy, stating that the court receives numerous petitions daily from aggrieved individuals and emphasizing that while the government aims to control pollution, citizens should not be unduly harassed.
"This is troublesome. Don't harass the citizens. Every day I have five petitions (on such seizure and non-release of vehicles)," remarked Justice Singh.
In response to a batch of petitions against the seizure of end-of-life vehicles for violating orders prohibiting the use of petrol and diesel vehicles over 15 years and 10 years old, respectively, the court, on August 22, had directed their release.
The release was conditioned on owners providing an undertaking that they would either permanently park the vehicles in private spaces or remove them from the city limits. Subsequently, the Delhi government was instructed to formulate a policy for handling such vehicles when owners assured they would not be used in the national capital.
During the hearing on Wednesday, the Delhi government's counsel informed the court that the policy was in its final stages and would soon be in the public domain. The court, acknowledging the progress, directed the respondent to file the status of the policy within four weeks.
The court issued the present order in response to a contempt petition filed by the owner of a petrol car over 15 years old, described as a "family heritage." The petitioner, Sushma Prasad, alleged that despite the court's order for the release of her car, the authorities had failed to comply.
Advocate Aditya N. Prasad, representing the petitioner, stated that, in accordance with the release order, the petitioner had given an undertaking that the vehicle would not run or be parked on public land. The government counsel suggested that the petitioner could retrieve the vehicle from the scrapper by paying the towing charges in line with the court's directions.
Justice Singh cautioned that if the vehicle is not released, the court may initiate contempt proceedings.
Case Title: Sushma Prasad v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi & Ors. (a batch of petitions)
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