#environmental regulation

The Delhi High Court ruled that compensation for an unlawful End-of-Life Vehicle seizure cannot be claimed via a writ petition under Article 226 and must be pursued in a civil suit. This narrows writ jurisdiction and directs vehicle owners to ordinary civil remedies under the Motor Vehicle (Registration and Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility) Rules, 2021.

Rajasthan High Court ruled that purchasing a construction equipment vehicle before the 30.06.2025 emission norms cut-off entitles registration, even if documents are submitted late. The court emphasized substantive compliance over procedural delays, directing authorities to process registration without objections based on subsequent instructions.

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has ruled that BS-III vehicles purchased before April 1, 2017, are not subject to the Supreme Court’s registration ban under the M.C. Mehta judgment, even if tax payments are delayed. This decision protects buyers who acted in good faith before the cutoff and compels RTOs to issue registration certificates within four weeks, reinforcing legal certainty for pre-ban vehicle owners.

Uttarakhand High Court struck down an executive order restricting summer paddy cultivation on non-waterlogged land, ruling that crop choice restrictions require statutory sanction. The judgment reinforces that farmers' fundamental right to practice any occupation under Article 19(1)(g) cannot be curtailed by administrative fiat without legislative backing, setting a precedent for agricultural freedom.

Bombay High Court's Nagpur Bench reinforces strict compliance with Noise Pollution Rules, 2000, directing municipal halls and club houses to obtain consent, install sound barriers, and set up sewage treatment plants. The ruling, issued in a PIL, underscores executive accountability for public health and environmental protection, warning against delayed compliance.