Mahua Moitra and Saurav Das question Delhi High Court vehicle exemption
The leaders criticised a decision to exempt lawyers and court staff from BS-VI emission standard restrictions on non-Delhi registered vehicles.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) member Saurav Das have criticised a Delhi High Court order that exempts lawyers and court staff from certain vehicle entry restrictions. According to Mint, the order allows non-Delhi-registered vehicles that do not meet BS-VI emission standards to enter the capital for court staff and lawyers on working days.
The Delhi High Court, through Justice Amit Mahajan, passed the order on Friday following a petition by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA). The DHCBA had requested the exemption for advocates living in the National Capital Region (NCR) who travel to Delhi for work.
Responding to the decision on X, Moitra questioned the legality of the order. Saurav Das also criticised the move, stating that courts have historically exempted themselves from accountability and transparency, which he claimed undermines equality before the law.
The Delhi government had previously decided on June 23 to ban all motor vehicles from outside the capital that fail to meet BS-VI standards between November 1 and January 31 to address pollution. The DHCBA argued that many advocates commute from NCR cities such as Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad.
DHCBA president and senior advocate N Hariharan questioned the blanket ban, asking how courts would function if many advocates could not attend. The association stated that while they acknowledge the need to regulate emissions, advocates should be exempt to ensure the administration of justice and access to courts.