Bajaj Auto, world largest producer of three wheelers and has a market share of approximately 68 percent in the segment in India, challenges Delhi government decision of issuing 4,261 new TSR only allows electric auto rickshaws (e-autos) by soliciting online applications and barring other clean technologies like as CNG and BS-VI fuel.
A bench led by Justice LN Rao requested a response to the petition from the Ministry of Transport and the Delhi administration. After hearing from amicus curiae A D N Rao, the Supreme Court ruled that the issuance of licences should be postponed until the next hearing.
The automotive maker contended that the Delhi government’s decision is arbitrary and unfair against manufacturers of current clean fuel/CNG TSRs in its request to have the advertisement and application procedure quashed.
The firm wants the AAP administration to issue a directive that “no licences be provided to e-autos without also considering CNG autos and giving interested candidate drivers the opportunity to pick their preferred technology.”
Bajaj claimed that the rejection of permits discriminates against vehicles that operate on CNG and BS-VI fuel, and that the Delhi government cannot arbitrarily allocate them to a new technology, to the prejudice of CNG auto manufacturers.
It further added that the decision of Delhi Govt is an indirect restriction on new CNG TSRs, as well as limiting their market prospects, with no reasonable justification or discernible difference, because CNG does not show any environmentally worse profile than e-autos.
The automaker also argued that the government has the power to stimulate or benefit any technology, but not at the expense of completely disregarding and shutting out other legally compatible technologies, currently in existence.
The company also said that CNG is a green technology and was being introduced with respect to TSRs, and it is unreasonable and unfair to exclude such technology by redirecting all existing available permits for new TSRs to electric autos exclusively.
Bajaj claimed that the AAP government has already granted numerous benefits
and subsidies as incentives to e-autos that impact the collection to exchequer by Rs. 1.5 lakh for each new e-auto.
The incentives for new e-auto registration includes, FAME and state subsidies, lower GST rates, waivers in vehicle registration fees and much more.
