Odd-even mere optics, says SC; govt waits for order to spell scheme rules

A day after the Delhi government announced that it would roll out the odd-even scheme to curb vehicular emissions, the Supreme Court on Tuesday termed the scheme as “optics” even as it questioned its efficacy and success in the past in reducing the dangerously high pollution levels in the national capital.

- Abraham Thomas

It also sought response of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government by Friday on alternative ways the court suggested to reduce vehicular pollution.

The apex court’s observations came on a day the Delhi government had planned to announce details of the implementation of the scheme, including exemptions and penalties to be imposed. However, following the SC’s directions on Tuesday, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said that they will wait for the court’s written orders based on which a decision on the implementation of the scheme will be taken.

The government had announced on Monday that the vehicle rationing scheme will be rolled for a week on November 13 in a bid to tackle the ongoing pollution crisis.

On Tuesday, a bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia, sounding rather unimpressed by the plan, said, “Has the odd-even scheme been successful (in the past)?. These are all optics.” Delhi has seen three previous stints of the odd-even scheme being implemented in 2016, 2017 and 2019.