Supreme Court observed last week as to why should appropriate proceedings for perjury be not initiated against petitioners, who are against the launch of quadricycles in the country if an affidavit filed by them proves to be unsatisfactory.
Pune-based Bajaj Auto had created a new four wheeler quadricycle (Bajaj Qute) for public transportation (taxi) application, complying with these quadricycle norms notified by the Central Government.
The company planned to launch the quadricycle in the domestic market, however, a series of petitions against it stalled Qute’s introduction.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi appeared for the Government defending the introduction of quadricycles highlighted that the Tyagi Committee Report was annexed by various writ petitioners (auto driver / auto drivers associations). This did not tally with the Tyagi Committee Report that was actually available with the Government.
He also drew the attention of the Court to the fact that the same writ petitioners had filed what is known as the Ambuj Sharma Committee Report at two places in the Supreme Court, and the said two documents both of which were stated to be the same Ambuj Sharma Committee Report were curiously different.
“The petitioners have attempted to not only fabricate the documents but also use the same in the judicial proceedings for which appropriate actions needs to be taken against the persons responsible,” Rohatgi submitted in the SC.
The counsels for the Auto Drivers Associations submitted that they would investigate the matter at their end and revert.
The SC has directed the petitioners to file the affidavit within six weeks explaining the discrepancies in the contents of both the reports.
The apex court had also directed Rohatgi to file attested true copies submitted by Dinesh Tyagi and Ambuj Sharma within a week. It has also directed the registrar to compare the attested true copies with those filed by the petitioners and submit a report on the nature and the extent of variance between the documents.
After taking into consideration the Tyagi Committee Report and considering inputs from various stakeholders, the Government amended the Central Motor Vehicle Rules Act. This led to introduction of new sub-category of motor vehicles called ‘quadricycles’.