The division bench of justices Devinder Gupta and S.K. Aggarwal were told that the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests had issued the gazette notification on October 5 and that the emission standard would come into effect from June 1 next year.

The court was hearing a PIL that seeks prohibition to use unauthorised gensets in public places and residential areas, as these cause both air and noise pollution. The judges, however, declined to make `Birla Yamaha' and `Shriram Honda' -- two major manufacturers of gensets -- party in the PIL.

The counsels for Birla Yamaha and Shriram Honda said they wanted to put before the court reports of certain modifications carried out in the products to reduce the pollution. The bench, however, asked them to submit the reports directly to the ministry. The government counsel also told the court that `noise standard' for gensets evolved by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was under the ministry's consideration.

HC notice on injecting cattle with oxytocin
The Delhi High Court today issued notices to Ministry of Health, Chief Drugs Controller and director of the Animal Welfare Department over rampant use of the artificial hormone, oxytocin, by cattle breeders and dairy owners. Oxytocin is used to increase milk yield.

The division bench of Chief Justice S.N. Variava and Justice S.K. Mahajan also directed the Delhi government to explain its stand on shifting unauthorised dairies to a new colony.

The judges were hearing a bunch of petitions seeking removal of stray cattle from city streets, relocation of dairies and ban on the use of oxytocin.

Advocate Raj Panjwani, representing People For Animals, sought prohibition on manufacture, distribution, sale and unauthorised use of Oxytocin BP (Vet) vials and ampules which are allegedly being administered to cows and buffaloes to boost milk yield.

``This is having adverse effect on animals as well as human beings,'' he said, quoting a report by Dr R.P. Parashar, president, DAV Research Society for Health. The report shows that 82 per cent of cattle breeders in the Capital use oxytocin.

In the districts of Sonepat, Rohtak, Faridabad, Gohana, Bahadurgarh, Loni, Ghaziabad, and Bulandshahar too, 62 to 68 per cent cattle breeders are said to be using the chemical injection.

Referring to Section 12 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Panjwani said the section states that no person shall use any injection of any substance to improve lactation which is injurious and that the government should invoke its powers to ban the use of chemical.

Panjwani said the government had announced a rehabilitation scheme for 2,655 dairy-owners with more than 30,000 cattle. But 1,943 plots were sold on first-cum-first-serve basis to 1,840 shop and factory-owners without verifying their identity, he said.

The matter will come up for further hearing on November 29.

Petition seeks probe on `illegal spending' by ministry
The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Union Textiles Ministry and the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) asking them to file replies to a petition alleging gross financial irregularities by AEPC. The alleged irregularities involve crores of rupees.

The All India Garment Exporters' Common Cause Guild had filed an urgent petition yesterday quoting a recent letter by the principal director of audit to the secretary of the Union Textiles Ministry. The letter said that AEPC had used Rs 66 crore from Public Deposit Account as its own deposit account and spent unauthorisedly on ``export promotion.''

Under export laws, the exporters are supposed to fulfil certain obligations with regard to export of their goods, failing which the amounts deposited by them under various heads can be forfeited.

Demanding a thorough probe, Guild President Chand K. Anand said the irregularity of Rs 66 crore was actually a tip of the iceberg as AEPC was routinely indulging in misuse of funds. The authorities, he said, were spending the amount first and then seeking sanctions for the expenses to justify the same.

Posting the matter for further hearing on February 10, Justice C.M. Nayyar directed the respondents to file their detailed replies ``within four weeks''.

Disabled take to the streets for their rights
Children with hearing impairment along with their parents held a protest march-cum-rally in the Capital yesterday over the government's delay in issuing any notification to give incentives to disabled persons under the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.

The march was organised by Suniye, a local NGO working with hearing impaired children. Later submitted a letter to Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Maneka Gandhi, urging her to take speedy action for the welfare of the disabled.