Plea in HC seeks exemption for lawyers in odd-even scheme

A petition was filed today in the Delhi High Court seeking exemption for advocates from the ongoing odd-even scheme and also against imposition of Rs 2000 as fine for violation without proper amendments in the Motor Vehicles Act.
The petition alleged that the April 11 notification by the Delhi government on the fortnight-long odd-even scheme, which came into force from April 15, was "bad" and against the law.
"The impugned notification has been issued ignoring the problems, rights and privileges of legal fraternity despite there being a specific direction by this court. 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," the petition, filed by advocate Rajiv Khosla, said.

Khosla, who is also the President of Delhi High Court Bar Association, 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..."
The plea also claimed that the Delhi Government "cannot arbitrarily" fix a fine of Rs 2,000 without appropriate amendments in the Motor Vehicles Act 1988.
It said that data of air pollution during the first phase of odd-even scheme in January this year should have been analysed by a government-appointed agency before starting the second phase.
In its April 11 notification, the city government had said violation of odd-even rules will attract a fine of Rs 2,000 in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 194 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.