Order of the Supreme Court of India regarding violation of environmental norms by Volkswagen, 21/01/2019
Order of the Supreme Court of India in the matter of Volkswagen India Pvt. Ltd. & Other Vs Satvinderjeet Singh Sodhi & Others dated 21/01/2019 regarding violation of environmental norms by Volkswagen. An order passed by NGT dated 16 November 2018 had ordered the automaker to deposit an amount of Rs. 100 crores with the CPCB within a month. On 17 January 2019, the Tribunal passed an order noting that the deposit in terms of its order dated 16 November 2018 has not been made. Volkswagen furnished an undertaking that a deposit would be made by next day which was done accordingly. Supreme Court directs that no punitive measures should be imposed on the automaker for a delay in deposit.
The Supreme Court asks NGT to go through the report of the Committee constituted by the Tribunal and that it should also also include a member of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Also SC leaves it open to the Tribunal to consider whether, it is necessary or desirable to widen the scope of the enquiry and to seek information on whether any other manufacturer of vehicles is similarly situated, so as to warrant a regulatory enquiry.