The National Green Tribunal has been moved by a schoolteacher based in Delhi with regard to banning Volkswagen India from selling its vehicles in the country post the emissions controversy.

The petition refers to the recent report published by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and alleges how Volkswagen and its group companies were polluting the environment by disregarding regulations in India. The petition refers to how the Group is selling cars that produce nine times more nitrogen oxide than the regulatory limit. Saloni Ailawdi, the petitioner has asked for steps to ban the manufacturing, assembly and sale of all cars manufactured by Volkswagen India and subsidiary companies till it is proven that these vehicles adhere to all norms and regulations in India.

The petitioner has stated how she was shocked at Volkswagen admission of deliberate deceit in relation to emissions and disregard of environmental norms, thereby putting the lives of global and Indian citizens at risk. Cars being sold by Volkswagen are contaminating the environment and risking the lives of millions of citizens who are forced to take in poisonous air fumes and suffer from related illnesses. The parties in the case include the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Volkswagen India, Central Pollution Control Board, Volkswagen Group Sales India and Skoda Auto India.

The petition asks for direct and extensive investigation of all vehicles imported and sold by the company in India after their imports. Additionally, it asks for a total ban on sales of all such cars until proven that they do not flout environmental norms and other mandatory regulations in India. The government had already issued a notice to the Group post the revelation of variations in emissions on road for diesel models of cars like Audi A6, Audi A4, Volkswagen Jetta and Skoda Octavia.

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