Delhi Government moves Supreme Court to review blanket ban on older vehicles

The Delhi government has approached the Supreme Court, seeking a review of the ban on older vehicles operating on the roads of the National Capital Region (NCR).

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Delhi’s Environment Minister, said on Saturday that the Supreme Court will hear the government’s plea on Monday. The plea requests the apex court to reconsider its 2018 decision enforcing an age-based blanket ban on vehicles.

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“Many older vehicles are rarely used and cause less pollution, while some newer ones, despite their age, have been driven extensively and pollute more,” Sirsa said.

“That’s why we believe vehicle usage—not just age—should be the criterion for assessing pollution. We’ve highlighted these points in our application to the Supreme Court.”

In its petition, the Delhi government urged the Supreme Court to direct the Central Government or the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to conduct a comprehensive scientific study, citing various technological and legal reforms.

“Significant technological, legal, and environmental developments have taken place since 2018, which warrant a re-examination of this decision,” the application stated, referring to measures aimed at combating air pollution.

The application also argued that newer BS-VI (Bharat Stage VI) vehicles, introduced under stricter emission norms, emit significantly fewer pollutants than older BS-IV models.

It outlined several initiatives undertaken by both the state and central governments to curb vehicular emissions, such as stricter enforcement of Pollution Under Control (PUC) certification, expansion of greener public transport options, and promotion of electric vehicles in both public and private sectors.

Furthermore, the Delhi government contended that many of the vehicles currently subject to the age-based ban are well-maintained, compliant with emission standards, and used sparingly, resulting in negligible real-world emissions.

The application emphasized that such low-usage older vehicles contribute minimally to overall pollution levels, raising questions about whether the blanket ban is proportionate to its intended impact.

It also warned that the restriction has placed an undue burden on middle-class families, many of whom rely on these vehicles for limited but essential travel.

Urging a reconsideration of the 2018 order enforcing the vehicle age cap, the Delhi government called for more scientific, targeted, and equitable solutions to address air pollution in the NCR.

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