See if lawyers can be exempted from odd-even scheme: Delhi HC

A petition has alleged that the April 11 govt notification on the fortnight-long odd-even scheme was arbitrary, illegal

The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the Delhi government to consider if there is any possibility to exempt lawyers from the second phase of the odd-even traffic restriction scheme now in force in the national capital.

Asking the government to apprise the court about its decision by Wednesday, a division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath said: "Consider if there is any possibility to exempt lawyers for the remaining period of the odd-even scheme which is expiring on April 30."

Read more from our special coverage on "ODD-EVEN SCHEME"

• Odd-even scheme: Few takers for MP special bus service
• Some MPs seek relief from Odd-Even scheme
• Odd-Even scheme: Arvind Kejriwal wages war on overcharging cab operators
• Odd-even blues: Uber, Ola cabs go missing in Delhi
• Odd-even scheme: Delhi govt cracks whip on overcharging Ola, Uber cabs

The scheme was a policy decision of the Delhi government and it was in force for two weeks and not a permanent scheme, the bench noted.

Under the odd-even scheme, four-wheelers with odd and even registration numbers are to ply on alternate dates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the April 15-30 period.

The scheme is not enforced on Sundays and certain vehicles like those run on compressed natural gas, ambulances and certain categories of VIPs and single women drivers are exempted.

Appearing for the Delhi government, senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra told the bench that only four days were left for the scheme to end and that the first phase of the scheme was enforced in peek winter and second in summer.

The petition filed by Delhi High Court Bar Association president Rajiv Khosla alleged that the April 11 government notification on the fortnight-long odd-even scheme was "arbitrary, illegal, unreasonable and against the spirit of the constitution".

He also challenged the Rs 2,000 fine being slapped for violation of the odd-even scheme without amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act.

The plea said the notification was hampering the legal fraternity in carrying out its professional responsibilities in different courts and tribunals in Delhi.

"It is evident that the said policy has been passed in haste without carrying out studies/research in relation to the work schedule of professionals," Khosla said.

He said "lawyers are entitled to be exempted from the application of the odd-even scheme as the lawyers assist the courts in guarding the personal liberty and civil rights of citizens."