New Delhi [India], April 22 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Central government to apprise it of its policy decisions made periodically to promote the use of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and the infrastructure made available for them.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh granted four weeks’ time to Attorney General R Venkataramani to respond to its queries and posted the matter for hearing on May 14.
The apex court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking proper implementation of the government’s policies to promote the purchase and use of EVs.
During the hearing of the case, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), said that the government must provide the basic infrastructure for EVs.
Bhushan further said that poor charging infrastructure is one of the biggest hurdles for people, with charging stations currently spaced as far apart as 400 kilometres.
As Bhushan asked how other departments can follow suit if the government doesn’t act first on using EVs for its departments, Justice Kant said it is not just the government but other institutions that have to come forward.
The bench also expressed concerns over the Artificial Intelligence (AI) may in future replace drivers and consequently lead to unemployment for many people.
Justice Kant remarked, “My worry is that the AI should not eliminate the employment of these drivers… In India, being a driver is a big source of employment.”
The remarks of the bench came as Bhushan shared a recent incident where, in California, an AI-powered Uber car with no driver came to pick up the passenger.
Justice Kant said AI itself is a fast-growing technology, and one module becomes obsolete in months.
The PIL sought the implementation of a 2012 policy regarding electric vehicles and the steps taken by the authorities on the effective implementation of the policy.
The 2012 policy mandates the use of Electric Vehicles for public transport and for use by government departments. The policy also requires that charging stations be installed in public buildings. (ANI)
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