No extension of deadline for CNG conversion: S.C.

NEW DELHI, APRIL 27. The Supreme Court today dropped contempt proceedings initiated against the Chief Minister of Delhi, Ms. Shiela Dikshit, and the Transport Minister, Mr. Parvez Hashmi, for their reported statements against its order on conversion of city buses and other commercial vehicles to CNG mode.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Mr. A.S. Anand, Mr. Justice B.N. Khare and Mr. Justice V.N. Khare, dropped the contempt proceedings after the Delhi Government filed an affidavit stating that they had the ``highest regard for the apex court and never intended to show any disrespect to it.''

The court also directed that the affidavits filed by the bus and other commercial vehicle owners for conversion of their vehicles to CNG mode after the March 31 deadline would not be entertained.

The court said the March 31 deadline would not be extended and the vehicle owners who had filed their affidavits along with other relevant documents after the deadline should not be allowed for conversion of their vehicles. Over 2,000 vehicles reportedly had filed their affidavits after the deadline.

The court directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to take action against those who had filed false and forged affidavits for the conversion and availed permits to run their vehicles while asking the Delhi Government to file an affidavit in this regard.

On information that the vehicle fuels were being adulterated with kerosene, the court also directed the Ministry of Petroleum to file an affidavit before it regarding the quantity of kerosene being supplied in the city.

The bench clarified that it's order in July 1998 allowing only vehicles with clean fuel to be permitted to ply in the city should be read with its later order of April 29, 1999, allowing registration of Euro II compliant vehicles.

- PTI

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