NEW DELHI: The AAP government has told the Delhi High Court it was not against changing its policy on advertisements on autos but a final decision will take some time as the earlier transport minister had resigned and a new one was at the helm.
The submission was made before a bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Vibhu Bakhru which was hearing two pleas filed on behalf of some auto unions challenging the government’s policy on display of advertisements on public service vehicles (PSVs), particularly the bar on political ads.
The court, which has already reserved its verdict in the two matters, had taken them up again as it wanted to know whether the government on its own would address the issues raised by the petitioners.
Delhi government counsel Satyakam told the bench they were not objecting to the issues raised by the petitioners but were waiting for a formal decision to come from new Transport Minister Satyendar Jain, who took over following Gopal Rai’s resignation.
The lawyer sought two weeks to place the government’s decision before the court.
In view of the submissions made by the lawyer, the court listed the matter for hearing on August 26.
The court had on an earlier date said the government appeared to be “more interested” in advertisements on buses as these would bring more revenue rather than focusing on a policy for ads on autos where the money would go to owner of the vehicles.
The observation came after the Delhi government told the court that it was reconsidering the entire policy of outdoor advertisements and handed over minutes of a meeting held regarding ads on buses.
The court had also directed the government to “focus” on the three questions raised by the bench in its order of September 2014 and had given them time till July 22 to file an affidavit indicating their “clear stand” with regard to policy for advertisements on autorickshaws.
PTI