The High Court has delivered a landmark judgment ending the legal debate over Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCC). The court ruled that vehicle owners must clear all pending traffic dues before applying for a PUCC, citing Rule 167 (12) of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules.
The verdict follows a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that challenged a December 20 order. That order prohibited fuel stations from selling petrol or diesel to vehicles without a valid PUCC. The petitioner argued that such restrictions violated fundamental rights and that linking traffic fines to pollution testing was illegal.
However, the Advocate General successfully argued that the amended Motor Vehicle Rules mandate the settlement of dues as a prerequisite for the application. Accepting the Transport Department’s affidavit, the High Court dismissed the PIL, reinforcing the state’s authority to enforce compliance through the Single Window System.
This ruling effectively mandates that "No Dues" is now a necessity for "No Pollution" certification, streamlining traffic enforcement and environmental accountability.