Kerala HC stays NGT's order banning diesel vehicles older than 10 years

The Kerala High Court on Friday stayed the National Green Tribunal's order which banned diesel vehicles that are older than 10 years in six cities across Kerala.

The High Court had last month stayed the NGT order which directed the state government not to register any diesel vehicle with capacity of 2000 CC and more, except public transport and local authority vehicles.

In a landmark judgement, an NGT bench in Kochi had on May 23 banned light and heavy diesel vehicles, which are more than 10 years old, in six major cities, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur.

The order was issued against diesel vehicles while hearing a petition filed by Lawyers' Environmental Awareness Forum.

The bench had also directed the traffic police to take action and charge a fine of Rs. 5,000 as environment compensation from defaulters.

The petition had demanded toxic gases by the old diesel vehicles such as lorries and buses should be immediately curtailed and a strict rule should be brought for it.