HC orders notice over ban on 4-stroke diesel autos

The High Court of Karnataka on Monday issued notice to the state government over the ban on registration of four-stroke diesel passenger autorickshaws.

Justice B V Nagarathna was hearing a petition filed by Farm Power Tractor, a manufacturer of three- wheelers, challenging the notification of the government.

The petitioner stated that four-stroke diesel engines were better than compressed natural gas engine vehicles and buses and trucks which use diesel engines and have been permitted by the government. It contended that four-stroke diesel engine autos conform to Bharat Stage Emission Standards (BSES) IV set by the Central Pollution Control Board.

'Withdraw plea'

The high court has directed withadrawal the petition questioning the government's expenditure on the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Vidhana Soudha.

A division bench of acting chief justice H G Ramesh and P S Dinesh Kumar stated that the grounds on which the petition was filed were very unclear. The bench directed the petitioner to file a fresh petition with clear grounds.

S N Aravind had moved the court challenging the government spending crores of rupees on the event and had stated that the money could have been used for public welfare.