Some good news coming in from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) as the government owned green bench has now permanently allowed vintage and classic cars and motorcycles to ply on Indian roads “for exhibitions, rallies and maintenance” and exempted them from the ban of 15-year-old vehicles in Delhi/NCR. Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that vintage cars which satisfy prescribed norms under the Motor Vehicles Act would be allowed to run.
In November 2014, NGT had banned over 15 years old vehicles to run on Delhi roads to keep a check on the rising pollution that lead to disqualifying vintage cars from participating in any rally. While granting the relief to the vintage cars, the green panel referred to Rule 92 (2)(c) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 and Section 59 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which grants exemption to “antique/vintage” vehicles. The bench also says that the owners of the vintage cars should also contribute towards the improvement of environment by planting trees and providing dust bins.
The order came on a plea filed by Heritage Motoring Club of India, whose president is senior advocate KTS Tulsi.
“We direct that antique cars which satisfy prescribed norms under the Motor Vehicles Act would be allowed to ply on the road for exhibitions, rallies and maintenance and will not be allowed otherwise. We also observe that the applicant association as part of their corporate social responsibility would make contribution towards environment by planting trees and providing dust bins which would help in improving the ambient air quality of Delhi,” the bench also comprising Justice U D Salvi said.
Madan Mohan, organiser of ’21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally and Concours Show’ held annually in Delhi and Greater Noida welcomed the NGT order and termed it as “positive verdict”.
“We are very happy with the order. The NGT order allowing vintage cars for exhibitions, rallies and maintenance is a positive verdict to save the rich cultural heritage. We will keep the fight on. We will try that vintage cars are allowed even on the weekends,” Madan said.
With inputs from PTI
