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- Supreme Court Calls For Revisiting India’s 2020 Electric Vehicle Policy, Suggests Pilot Projects In Metro Cities
New Delhi1 hour ago
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The Supreme Court on Thursday heard the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed on the policy promoting Electric Vehicles (EV). During this time, the court has verbally advised the government to re-review the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020.
Along with this, the court has suggested starting pilot projects in metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru. Before the bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Jyomlya Bagchi, lawyer Prashant Bhushan argued that there is a need to implement government policies like rebates and tax exemptions on EV purchases.
Understand the whole matter in 5 points
- Launch of PIL (2019): Center for Public Interest Litigation, Common Cause and Sitaram Jindal Foundation filed PIL in 2019. The objective was to stop emissions from fossil fuel vehicles, which are increasing air pollution and climate change. The petitioners said that due to the negligence of the government, the citizens’ right to health and clean environment (Articles 14 and 21) are being violated. Cities were accused of turning into ‘gas chambers’.
- main demands : The petitioners sought implementation of the Ministry of Heavy Industries’ NEMMP 2012 and NITI Aayog’s ‘Zero Emission Vehicles’ report of 2018. This included rebates on EVs, tax exemptions, converting government vehicles into EVs, making charging points mandatory and feebate system (fees on polluting vehicles, subsidy on EVs). Also, encouragement to private charging infrastructure, toll/parking exemptions and focus on hydrogen vehicles were mentioned.
- Court’s 2020 response: In 2020, the Supreme Court said that this issue affects the environment not only of NCR but of the entire country. The Court sought assistance from the parties on: EV procurement, charging ports, fuel economy system, hydrogen vehicles, other power sources and imports/environmental impact. The court accepted that pollution is increasing due to non-implementation of government recommendations, but did not give its decision immediately.
- today’s hearing: Before the bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Jyomlya Bagchi, lawyer Prashant Bhushan argued that incentives and charging points are necessary to reduce the high price of EV. Justice Kant suggested starting charging at existing petrol pumps/bus stations, but Attorney General R Venkataramani said the entire transition is a big policy decision. The Court advised NEMMP review after 5 years and pilot project in metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai etc.).
- Court order and further hearing: Court listed the case after 4 weeks. The work on NEMMP was led by Attorney General R. Venkataramani told the court that 13 central ministries are working together for EV promotion. The court has asked to submit all notifications and progress reports within a month.
What is National Electric Mobility Mission Plan?
NEMMP 2020 is a scheme of the Government of India, which aims to ensure the fuel security of the country by promoting electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid vehicles. It was launched in 2012 and updated to strengthen it by 2020.
The plan focuses on steps like subsidies, tax exemptions, emphasis on government procurement, research on batteries and technology, and building charging stations to reduce the high cost of EVs.
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