Supreme Court declines to hold early hearing of odd-even petition

Meanwhile, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) submitted, to the court, a report and chart of the pollution from 2011 to 2015, which revealed that air pollution remain at peak during three periods in Delhi.

While the Supreme Court on Thursday refused urgent hearing of a petition challenging the AAP government’s notification on odd-even scheme, there are many who think the scheme is flawed and Delhi does not have the public transport to support it.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur said the pilot project has to be promoted and even Supreme Court judges have done their bit by car-pooling among themselves.

SC terms the plea as a “publicity stunt”, says, “People are dying due to pollution”.

Why a young advocate is having difficulty in reaching the court, the court observed. “It is a publicity stunt”. “Let it come up in due course”, the bench said. It is likely to be introduced again after a review, a government minister has said.

The Delhi government’s odd-even policy, under which cars with registrations ending in even numbers could ply only on even dates and odd numbered ones on odd dates, ends tomorrow.

A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva expressed displeasure that Delhi traffic police had minimal role in success of odd-even scheme.

“On the basis of results, it will be decided when to implement the second phase of the scheme in the national capital”, Rai added.

Last week, the Delhi HC said that it would not cut short the trial; however the apex court rejected the appeal of the lawyer saying that the formula should be terminated.

The odd-even rule which was implemented in Delhi starting January 1 is expected to go on till January 15.