The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to restrain the city government from enforcing its decision to allow even and odd number cars to ply in Delhi on alternative dates, saying the decision is on a “trial basis”.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath refused to pass any order on two PILs against Delhi government’s a decision and posted the matters for December 23.

“It’s premature. Why are you filing these petitions? Delhi government is discussing this with groups of people. They will implement it from January 1, 2016 on trial basis. There is no policy/notification now. There is a proposal. You can`t use these PILs just to pressurise the government,” said the bench while adjourning the case.

Appearing for the Delhi government, advocate Rahul Mehra opposed the pleas, saying the government has been discussing the issue with groups of people and the pleas should be dismissed.

One PIL was filed by advocate Shweta Kapoor and the other by Sarvesh Singh.

One of the PILs said the government announced its plan to restrict the number of cars on roads without first conducting a public debate and a study of the pros and cons of a system based on whether the registration number of a motor vehicle ends in an even or odd digit.

It said the decision taken without considering the disturbing effect it would have on the public at large.

To bring down the increasing air pollution level in the national capital, the Delhi government has decided that from January 1, private vehicles would be allowed to run on the streets on alternate dates depending on whether their licence plates end in odd or even numbers.

Amid growing tension over various security issues and to pitch for better bilateral ties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit, which will be held in Pakistan in 2016.

The 19th SAARC summit in Islamabad will be hosted by Pakistan and this was announced by Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while addressing the 18th SAARC summit held in the Nepal.

Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in her statement in Islamabad on Wednesday confirmed that Modi will attend the SAARC summit in Pakistan and also hinted that she will also come along with the Prime Minister.

She said that India is ready to work with Afghanistan and Pakistan claiming that “the heart of Asia cannot function if its arteries are clogged.”

She extended a hand of cooperation to Pakistan and said that India is ready to adjust to Pakistan’s pace and work with them.

“India extends its hand to Pakistan as well. It is time that we display the maturity and self confidence to do business with each other. For its part, India is prepared to move the cooperation at a pace which Pakistan is comfortable with,” Swaraj had said.

The External Affairs Minister claimed that it is the “collective duty of all to ensure that the forces of terrorism and extremism do not find sanctuaries and safe heavens in any name form or manifestations.”

An FIR was registered on Wednesday against a diplomat from the Russian embassy, who was booked for rash driving and assaulting a traffic police cop on duty.

However, the Russian official is not likely to be arrested because of the diplomatic immunity enjoyed by the foreign delegates.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police is also sending a detailed report relating to the matter to the Home Ministry.

The Russian diplomat, who was severely intoxicated, rammed into a police barricade in Moti Bagh late last night and also rear-ended a motorbike, injuring two people.

The incident happened late last night around 1:30 am when the diplomat was asked to stop by the police after his car hit a bike. However, instead of stopping, he slammed his car into the barricade.

The diplomat refused to come out of the car and allegedly punched and abused a constable on duty.

“He was so intoxicated that he could not control the car and he was practically unconscious. He was driving really fast and was unable to stop. His car is so badly damaged and this is proof of how hard he rammed into the police barricade. When the police tried to get him out of the car, he refused to do so,” one of the bikers who sustained minor injuries said.

Besides the other biker who has been admitted in AIIMS, the Russian official also sustained injuries and was seen with a heavily bleeding nose.

The diplomat was later taken away by his friend, who had a lengthy discussion with the police.

At a time when Congress has been attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his autocratic functioning, a new video showing its senior leader bowing down and placing a pair of slippers before Rahul Gandhi as he toured the flood-hit Puducherry has now raised questions over alleged ‘culture of sycophancy’ prevalent in the party.

The video, which has become viral on social media, has come as a major embarrassment for the Congress party, which has been very critical of Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

The video shows veteran Congress leader and former Union minister V Narayanasamy bending before Rahul Gandhi – a junior to him in politics but senior in the party hierarchy – and offering him a pair of slippers to wear as the Congress vice president removed his shoes and decided to tour the flood-hit Puducherry bare foot.

In the video, the Congress vice president is seen putting the slippers on without much fuss.

Narayanasamy, who represents Puducherry, has categorically dismissed criticism and references to the much-criticised ‘culture of sycophancy’ in the country’s oldest political party.

“As a courtesy, I offered my chappals as Rahul Gandhi removed his shoes to walk barefoot in the water,” said the 68-year-old Congress veteran.

What is wrong in it. He was our guest and we have a tradition of welcoming guests in south, Narayanasamy commented.

Referring to a question on ‘culture of sycophancy’ in Congress, Narayanasamy said, “We don’t have such a culture in the party. Rahul carried his shoes throughout and he didn’t even let his security personnel carry them for him.”

I am very proud of my leader Rahul Gandhi and what I did for him, he added.

Narayanasamy was minister of state with the Prime Minister’s Office in the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government which lost power last year.

Besides Puducherry, Rahul Gandhi also visited Chennai, which is struggling in the aftermath of massive flooding after record rainfall last week.