New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has declined a plea by the Special Protection Group (SPG) to prolong the registration of three diesel-run specialized armoured vehicles used for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security.
In its ruling dated March 22, the NGT’s principal bench, chaired by Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Dr A Senthil Vel, turned down the SPG’s application, citing the Supreme Court’s October 2018 verdict banning diesel vehicles older than a decade from operating on Delhi NCR roads.
The Indian Express, which quoted the NGT, reported that the green panel, acknowledging the vehicles’ specialised nature and limited usage over the past decade, said, ” We are conscious of the fact that these three vehicles are special purpose vehicles which are not normally available and these vehicles have run very less in the last ten years and are needed for the specific purpose of security of the Prime Minister but in view of the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 29.10.2018… the prayer made… cannot be granted” and it “is accordingly rejected”
Manufactured in 2013 and registered in December 2014, the three Renault MD-5 armoured vehicles, as per the order, have covered only about 6,000 km, 9,500 km and 15,000 km, respectively over the past nine years, used solely for specific tactical purposes.
Despite being registered until December 2029, these vehicles face deregistration in December 2024, aligning with the Supreme Court’s directive. The SPG’s request to extend the registration by another five years was rejected by the Transport Department in June 2023, citing NGT and Supreme Court orders.
The SPG argued the vehicles’ unique technical specifications and the challenges in procuring similar models from the market. However, the NGT observed that government notifications allowing registration extensions were general, whereas the Supreme Court’s diesel vehicle ban specifically targeted Delhi NCR.
Before the Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling, the NGT itself had barred diesel vehicles older than a decade from Delhi NCR roads in April 2015, aiming to curb air pollution.
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