[ By Bobby Anthony ]The Supreme Court has agreed to interact with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on issues related to procurement of electric vehicles (EVs) for public transport and setting up charging infrastructure across the country.A bench headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde and comprising Justice B R Gavai as well as Justice Surya Kant asked Additional Solicitor General N...
The Supreme Court has agreed to interact with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on issues related to procurement of electric vehicles (EVs) for public transport and setting up charging infrastructure across the country.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde and comprising Justice B R Gavai as well as Justice Surya Kant asked Additional Solicitor General N S Nadkarni if Gadkari can come over for an interaction on this matter, and assist the court.
“Could the minister come to the Supreme Court and explain the proposal to introduce vehicles run on electricity or hydrogen,” the court asked the top law officer.
Nadkarni replied that this may send a wrong message and lend a political color to it; otherwise, the minister would be happy to come to the top court. The court clarified that there is nothing political about it.
The court said, “We understand Prashant Bhushan is a political person, but he will not argue with the minister”.
The Supreme Court’s observation came during a hearing of a plea by an NGO represented by Bhushan, about the implementation of a scheme called National E-Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP), 2020. According to this scheme, the government is supposed to procure electric vehicles to cut air pollution.
The Supreme Court in its order clarified it would like to consider issues related to EVs with the “assistance of an authority” which is empowered to take decisions.
The top court also recommended that the government to explore possibilities of making EVs affordable.
Bhushan argued that under the scheme, the authorities are supposed to encourage sale of EVs through subsidies, and also provide charging infrastructure at public places like malls as well as petrol pumps.