Plugging loopholes in the Centre’s decision to switch over to BS-IV emission norms for vehicles in the country, the Supreme Court on Wednesday banned the sale and registration of BS-III (Bharat Stage-III) compliant vehicles from April 1.
“We direct that on and from April 1, 2017, such vehicles that are not BS-IV compliant shall not be sold in India by any manufacturer or dealer, that is to say that such vehicle, whether two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers or commercial vehicles will not be sold in India by any manufacturer or dealer on and from April 1, 2017,” the Supreme Court bench said.
Observing that health of the people is “far, far more important” than the commercial interests of the manufacturers, the SC observed that automobile firms have declined to take “sufficient proactive steps” despite being fully aware that they would be required to manufacture only BS-IV compliant vehicles from April 1, 2017.
Citing an inventory pile-up in its dealer and distributor pipeline, many others in the auto industry had asked for an extension of the deadline on sales of already manufactured BS III vehicles — while assuring that production of said vehicles would end by March 31 2017. The court refused to provide this caveat and has now asked them to honour the letter of the law and carry out a complete transition – which of course also means stopping the sale and registration of such cars, bikes, three- wheelers and trucks.
