The Supreme Court on Saturday allowed Delhi Police to purchase 197 heavy-duty vehicles to be used for various activities, including VVIP security, but asked it to pay a 30 percent environment compensation charge on the total cost of vehicles.A bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur, Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice R. Banumati passed the order after Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand submitted that the vehicles were required for VVIP security and law and order purposes. Anand said the vehicles will also be required for transporting under-trial prisoners, collection of arms and ammunition, law and order duties, towing heavy vehicles like buses and trucks, patrolling and transporting animals for the All-India Police Horse Shows. In granting the permission, the court modified its earlier order banning the registration of diesel vehicles of 2,000 cc and above engine capacity.
Besides Delhi Police, the court also allowed NDMC and SDMC to get their heavy duty vehicles for the collection, transportation and disposal of garbage - registered after paying 30 percent ECC. The court order came after Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that two civic bodies have already purchased the vehicles but in wake of a National Green Tribunal order, these were not getting registered. Initially the bench asked Mehta to go to the tribunal for modification of the order but eventually allowed the plea by the civic bodies. The court also allowed Delhi Jal Board to purchase 250 vehicles to replace 240 vehicles which have been in service for more than 10 years. The court's direction came while hearing matter related to increasing pollution in Delhi.