Diesel car makers came in for sharp criticism on Tuesday by the apex court bench hearing their plea to modify its 16 December order banning registration and sale of diesel cars in Delhi from 1 January till 31 March, 2016. 

When the petitioners -- Mahindra, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Mercedez-Benz -- said that their cars do not cause much pollution, Chief Justice T S Thakur, who is heading the three-judge bench hearing the case, observed, "Do your cars emit oxygen?"

The apex court then asked the three car makers to furnish evidence in writing that diesel cars pollute less than petrol ones.

On 16 December, the Supreme Court had passed an order banning sale or registration of diesel cars with an engine capacity of 2000 cc and above in Delhi in a bid to control rising pollution in the national capital. 

The AAP government in Delhi led by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal later introduced the odd-even formula in the city from 1 January to do its bit to reduce pollution.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday also directed the Central government to replace five-year-old diesel vehicles.

It also directed the Central government to set up 104 CNG stations in 10 districts of NCR by 31 March for supplying sufficient gas to CNG-powered vehicles, added ANI.

The 16 December order has hit many car makers, since Delhi alone accounts for about 7% of the 26 lakh cars sold in India annually.

The apex court on Tuesday directed the Delhi government to continue issuing No-Objection Certificates to 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 16-year-old petrol vehicles being sold outside the NCR, reported India Today.

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