Plea in HC against AAP govt ban on private CNG kit installers

A plea was moved in Delhi High Court today alleging that the AAP government's recent decision to prohibit CNG kit suppliers from retrofitting the kit in 'in-use' vehicles has lead to large scale importing and installation of spurious kits.
The petition by an association representing certified CNG kit manufacturers and suppliers has sought setting aside of Delhi government's decision under which retrofitment of a kit is endorsed only when the original vehicle manufacturer certifies it to be genuine.
Justice Manmohan, before whom the matter was listed, refused to pass any interim order allowing the kit makers or suppliers to retrofit the kits and instead asked them to meet with the Transport Commissioner of the government to explore a whether members of the association can be allowed to retrofit the kits with some additional safeguards.

The court observed that the government's decision came in the backdrop of complaints that several thousand spurious CNG kits were installed during the last two times the odd-even scheme was implemented in Delhi, but added that the decision to prohibit the kit makers from carrying out their business was a "sledgehammer approach".
It directed the association, Society For Alternate Fuel and Environment (SAFE), and its members to cooperate with the government "in the development of an online software to address the issue of spurious CNG kits".
SAFE, represented by advocates Kapil Sankhla and Meghna Sankhla, has challenged Delhi government's office order of June 20 which prohibited motor licensing officers (MLOs) from endorsing CNG fuel in the vehicle registration certificates, and the August 12 circular, allowing retrofitment of CNG kits for endorsement on a certificate given by original vehicle manufacturer.

It has contended that the circular and order were illegal and contrary to Central Motor Vehicles Act 1988 and its Rules as the Delhi government has delegated its statutory power to a private party - original vehicle makers.

The association has claimed that as a result of the circular and office order, they are unable to retrofit kits in Delhi which is affecting their business.
SAFE said it has developed a software which will provide to the transport department details of retrofitted CNG kits with the vehicles' registration numbers.
Delhi government, meanwhile, said that the National Informatics Centre was developing a programme or software which will address the issue of spurious CNG kits.