The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has rejected a proposal for implementing a star rating system for passenger vehicles based on their fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions, declaring the plea non-maintainable. This decision was reached after a thorough examination by the tribunal’s bench, which includes judicial member Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel.
The plea advocated for the star rating system as an effective tool to reduce air pollution, a strategy already in place in several developed countries. However, the tribunal found that the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, which would govern such a rating system, does not fall within the scope of the NGT, as it is not listed under Schedule I of the NGT Act.
Schedule I references seven specific laws including the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, and Environment (Protection) Act, among others, but does not include the Energy Conservation Act. The tribunal emphasized that without inclusion in this schedule, the act does not come under its jurisdiction.
The NGT’s decision came after initial responses were sought from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises in September of the previous year.