“This is your city, you breathe the same air”, CJI Thakur to Sr. Adv representing diesel car companies

Chief Justice of India TS Thakur today took a dig at Senior Advocates appearing for various diesel car manufacturers in the case pertaining to pollution in Delhi..The Bench, also comprising Justices AK Sikri and R Banumathi, went on to extend the ban imposed on registration of diesel cars above 2000 cc engine capacity in Delhi. The court has now decided to hear the matter on a Saturday, though the exact date will be decided later..When the matter came up for hearing today, a battery of Senior Advocates appeared for various car companies. The list included Gopal Subramanium, Aryama Sundaram and P Chidambaram..The Court mooted the imposition of an Environmental Compensation Charge in lieu of registration of diesel cars..Justice Thakur remarked that such a levy will not affect the consumers who are buying big expensive cars..“People who buy these cars are either rich people or those who want to show off that they have a big car. Let them pay”..Gopal Subramanium argued that all Mercedes cars adhere to the prescribed pollution standards and that there was no basis for the argument that diesel cars are responsible for increasing pollution levels..Sundaram argued that thought diesel cars emit higher levels of particulate matter, petrol cars emit more carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. He also submitted that there are cars like Innova and Tata Sumo, with engine capacity above 2000 cc, which are not luxury cars..CJI Thakur, however, did not seem to be in a mood to entertain them..He minced no words in expressing his thoughts and remarked:.“You are like salespersons who sing praises for their cars. Even salespersons of these cars cannot do a better job than you…..You may be passionate about your clients but when you step out, you breath the same air”, he quipped..When another lawyer sought for registration of diesel vehicles Justice Thakur lost his cool..“No need to register. This city is already choked. We should impose a congestion charge also, even in Supreme Court. People come in big big cars”, he remarked angrily..The Court then proceeded to extend its earlier order banning registration of diesel cars above 2000 cc. The case will now be taken up on a Saturday.