In a big growth, the Odisha authorities has rolled again the ‘No PUCC, No Petrol’ order after the Excessive Court docket questioned the feasibility and legality of implementing the directive throughout petrol pumps within the state.
The federal government has submitted an affidavit within the Excessive Court docket on this regard. Petrol pumps can solely ask for PUCC however can not deny gasoline. The federal government can not power folks to clear all pending challans.
Directions have been issued to amend the Vahan portal, and the federal government has been directed to file an affidavit relating to the portal modification.
In the course of the Excessive Court docket listening to, two key points have been mentioned regarding the authorities’s earlier directive asking petrol pumps to disclaim gasoline to motorists and not using a legitimate Air pollution Below Management Certificates (PUCC). The directive, aimed toward guaranteeing compliance, created widespread confusion as petrol pumps lacked the logistics to confirm certificates.
Following the announcement, lengthy queues have been witnessed throughout Odisha as commuters rushed to acquire PUCC certificates. Questions have been additionally raised over one other clause stating that PUCC wouldn’t be issued to car house owners with pending challans, including to public anxiousness.
Additionally Learn: Crackdown on pretend PUCC centres in Odisha, motion towards 72, IDs blocked
Authorities’s Clarification
Based mostly on earlier courtroom proceedings, the federal government submitted an affidavit clarifying that petrol pumps might solely ask for PUCC however can not deny gasoline. It was additionally clarified that the federal government can not power commuters to clear all pending challans as a precondition.
“Referring to Part 167, it was argued that PUCC certificates wouldn’t be issued if challans weren’t cleared. Nonetheless, the Honourable Excessive Court docket rejected this plea, stating that there isn’t any authorized provision linking the issuance of PUCC certificates to the clearance of challans. The courtroom directed the Transport Commissioner to situation a notification, tackle the problems confronted within the Vahan portal, and inform the Excessive Court docket subsequent week, clearly stating that PUCC certificates shall be issued even when challans are pending, stated Ranjan Rout, Petitioner lawyer.
He additional said that the second grievance associated to the ban imposed on petroleum firms from promoting gasoline. On this regard, the Transport Division submitted an affidavit to the Excessive Court docket clarifying that the directions had been withdrawn. Petroleum firms have now been permitted to promote gasoline, and instructions have been issued to conduct consciousness programmes,” he added.
Court docket’s Observations and Instructions
The Excessive Court docket noticed that such directives can’t be imposed arbitrarily. Whereas the federal government cited the provision of portal services, the courtroom directed the transport authorities to make sure that any enforcement aligns strictly with provisions talked about within the Vahan portal and sought an affidavit on crucial amendments.
With the withdrawal of the directive, fast confusion has eased. The Excessive Court docket’s intervention has underscored the necessity for clear, sensible, and legally sound measures earlier than implementing coverage selections affecting the general public.
