HC admits appeals by LEAF against NGT order

The Kerala High Court today admitted appeals filed by the Lawyers' Environmental Awareness Forum (LEAF) against a single bench order staying the order of the National Green Tribunal circuit bench in the matter of banning 10-year-old diesel vehicles in six major cities of the state.
A division bench, comprising acting Chief Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice Anu Sivaraman posted appeals for hearing to July 12.
Earlier, the High Court had stayed the NGT circuit bench order banning light and heavy diesel vehicles, which are more than 10 years old, in six major cities of Kerala as well as registration of any diesel vehicle in the capacity of 2000 CC.

Issuing the order, Justice P B Suresh Kumar had said the High Court has jurisdiction to interfere with the NGT orders.
The NGT circuit bench here had banned light and heavy diesel vehicles, which are more than 10 years old, in six major cities, including state capital Thiruvananthapuram and commercial capital Kochi.
In its first sitting, the bench, comprising NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar and expert member Bikram Singh Sajwan, had also directed the state government not to register any diesel vehicle in 2000 CC capacity and more, except public transport and local authority vehicles.

The NGT bench had issued the order while hearing a petition filed by LEAF.

The Forum had sought action against highly-polluting diesel vehicles such as trucks and buses.
It had also noted that Kochi and other major cities have earned the reputation of being the most polluted cities.