The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday (January 12) directed the Director of Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to remain present before the Tribunal on the next date of hearing to evaluate the worth of a report by ARAI dated October 30, 2015.

On Friday, the NGT was apprised that ARAI had carried out an investigation in which it examined certain BS IV vehicles of different models manufactured by Volkswagen in India and tested them both in-house and on the road. And it appears from the report that instructions to examine were given by the ministry along with the liberty to interact with the officers of VW India.

The bench of Acting Chairperson Justice UD Salvi and Dr Nagin Nanda was acting on the matter related to the Volkswagen (VW) cars’ deficiencies resulting in high pollution and heavy environmental damage.

During the course of proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that they don’t want a single penny from the company but want the company to accept their fault.

The respondent’s counsel retorted: “The whole case comes up before the Tribunal because of some car defects that caused environmental damage in America. We don’t accept any faults in the manufacturing of the VW cars.” 

—India Legal Bureau