New Delhi: National Green Tribunal has directed that the enforcement mechanism for Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates for govt and govt-hired vehicles in Delhi be implemented with “full seriousness” at the ground level. The directions came after it was found that several govt vehicles lacked PUC certificates.The tribunal on Aug 20 disposed of an application filed in Dec 2024 by BJP MLA Jitendra Mahajan, who claimed that the authorities responsible for enforcing Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) order are themselves violating it. The plea claimed that many govt vehicles are overage.In April this year, Delhi govt told NGT that it issued challans to 60 vehicles running without valid certificates. The govt also said it issued a circular on April 7 mandating that all vehicles used for official purposes, whether govt-owned or hired, must have a valid PUC at all times.In an earlier report filed in Sept last year, the transport department stated that nearly 12,399 of the capital’s 30,995 registered govt vehicles (non-EVs) did not have a valid certificate as of June 2025.Delhi govt also informed the tribunal that there are approximately 950 PUC centres across Delhi, primarily at petrol pumps, IGL gas stations and authorised automobile workshops. The centres are required to use approved equipment and have valid calibration certificates for their testing equipment. The transport department said it conducted 2,050 inspections of the centres between May 2023 and May 2025. These resulted in 274 advisories, 76 show-cause notices, 146 warnings and suspension or stoppage of operations at 17 centres.“If any such vehicle is found to be plying on the road without PUCC, enforcement agency must take requisite remedial and punitive action,” said the tribunal.
