HC asks Govt to specify time limit for bluelines withdrawal

New Delhi, July 31 (UNI) The Delhi High court today asked the Delhi government to specify the time limit for the withdrawal of blueline buses from the city.

Hearing the arguments from state counsel Mukta Gupta and amicus curae AJ Bhambhani, a division bench headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal and PK Bhasin asked the state and the Union Government to furnish their responses on August 17.

The court also wanted to know the number of diesel private cars adding to the city every month. It assumes significance because the diesel cars are seen as more polluting than the diesel buses.

The court asked as to which of these was more polluting.

The court reminded the government of a Supreme Court directive in 1998. The apex court had stipulated the number of buses in the capital to be no more than 10,000. Since then the buses must have been allowed to increase in mathematical proportion, the high court said today. The judges asked for the measures taken by the government to comply with the SC order.

The state government was also told to furnish the slew of punitive measures taken against the rampaging blueline buses. "How many permits of the buses causing fatal accidents have been cancelled," the judges asked.

Earlier, the suggestions made by the amicus curae were handed over to state counsel for appropriate responses. The court also allowed an organisation 'Centre for Civil Society' to help the state government and the amicus in whatever way they can.

UNI