In Brief
The Supreme Court reviewed compliance with pollution control standards for motor vehicles in this environmental protection case. The Court examined recommendations from the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) regarding Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate centres. It directed the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways to implement key measures including: linking PUC data with the VAHAN database, mandating pre-payment of fees, strengthening inspection and monitoring of PUC centres, upgrading testing equipment, ensuring insurance companies verify valid PUC certificates, and implementing vehicle recall programmes. The Court emphasised regular monitoring and inspection of PUC centres to maintain emission standards, with a focus on corrective rather than purely punitive enforcement approaches.
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