SC Directs Centre: Switch to Electric Vehicles in Government Departments

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Central government to submit a comprehensive proposal by April 30 on the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in government departments. The move aims to reduce vehicular pollution, particularly in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), where lakhs of vehicles have crossed their legal operational age.

A division bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjwal Bhuyan raised concerns over the high number of aging and illegal vehicles still running on roads. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the court that approximately 60 lakh vehicles in Delhi and 25 lakh in NCR have exceeded their permitted age. The bench expressed concern about the unchecked movement of such vehicles and noted that it would soon issue appropriate guidelines to curb their impact on air quality.

In addition, the court directed the Centre to complete a study on the use of remote sensing technology within three months. This technology is expected to assist in monitoring emissions and detecting polluting vehicles in real time. While the government sought 10–12 months to complete the study, the bench emphasized the urgency of the matter and instructed that the timeline be strictly adhered to.