HC says no to restraining odd/even vehicle formula

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to restrain the city government from enforcing its decision to allow even and odd number cars to ply in Delhi on alternative days, saying the decision is on a "trial basis".

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath refused to pass any order on two PILs against the Delhi government's decision and posted the matters for December 23.

"It's premature. Why are you filing these petitions? Delhi government is discussing this with groups of people. They will implement it from January 1, 2016 on a trial basis. There is no policy/notification now. There is a proposal. You can't use these PILs just to pressurise the government," said the bench while adjourning the case.

Appearing for the Delhi government, advocate Rahul Mehra opposed the pleas, saying the government has been discussing the issue with groups of people and the pleas should be dismissed.

One of the petitioners has claimed that "imposition of such a policy/law would be contrary to public interest and has been imposed without any public debate or discussion and without understanding the situation and facts and circumstances in India".

It has also questioned whether the AAP government has the power to modify vehicular movement in the national capital.

Terming the national capital's public transportation system as "undeveloped and unsafe", the petitioner has said that it would create problems for women who travel alone as well as differently-abled persons who use modified vehicles to commute.