The Supreme Court Wednesday recalled its March 27 order by which it had allowed the sale of BS-IV vehicles for 10 days across the country, except in Delhi-NCR, after lifting of COVID-19 induced lockdown.
The apex court said automobile dealers violated its directives and BS-IV vehicles were sold during the lockdown in last week of March and after March 31 also.
“Do not take advantage of this court by playing fraud” a bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, S A Nazeer and Indira Banerjee, said while hearing the matter through video-conferencing.
The top court had on March 27 said it was permitting sale of 10 per cent of unsold BS-IV vehicles to make up for six days lost due to the nationwide lockdown which was imposed on March 25.
The apex court Wednesday said that Bharat Stage (BS)-IV vehicles sold after March 31 this year will not be presently registered.
The bench observed that sale of BS-IV vehicles had increased in the last week of March, when the nationwide lockdown was in force, and they were sold online also.
Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who is assisting the top court as an amicus curiae in the matter, said the court has recalled its March 27 order.
During the hearing, the bench observed that the automobile dealers association have not followed its earlier order and they have violated the apex court's directives.
It said that BS-IV vehicles were sold during the lockdown in last week of March and after March 31 also and now their registration was sought despite the fact that order was passed way back in 2018.