Diesel taxi owners got temporary relief as the Supreme Court extended the deadline to convert into CNG for another month, i.e. April 30. Meanwhile, registering diesel SUVs and high-end vehicles with engine capacity of over 2000 cc in the capital remains prohibited.
However, the bench of Justices AK Sikri and R Banumathi allowed the Union of India to use their SUVs bought by Special Protection Group(SPG) for armoured vehicles by paying 30 per cent as compensation charges. The court allowed the application moved by the Centre in this regard, directing it to pay the amount to Delhi Pollution Control Board.
The Supreme Court had imposed the ban on registering diesel SUVs in December last, prompting big players like Mercedes Benz, Toyota and General Motors to seek extension of the ban. The orders came into force to arrest rising pollution levels in Delhi, which is infamous for being the most polluted city in the world.