Top News

In a significant respite for car owners in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), the Supreme Court has directed that no coercive measures be taken against owners of diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years.

The decision came while hearing a Delhi government petition challenging the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) order that sought to stop fuel supply to such vehicles and mandate their scrapping in line with a 2018 Supreme Court ruling.

Background of the Dispute

In July, CAQM — the central anti-pollution body for Delhi and surrounding states — issued an order to enforce the 2018 guidelines by halting fuel supply to “end-of-life” vehicles and ensuring they were scrapped. However, following strong public opposition and intervention by the Delhi government, the order was deferred until November 1.

The Delhi government argued that environmental conditions and technology have evolved since 2018, making age-based bans less effective than pollution-based assessments.

Supreme Court’s Interim Direction

A bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria issued notices to the Centre and CAQM, seeking their response within four weeks. Meanwhile, the court directed that no coercive action should be taken against owners solely on the basis of vehicle age.

Chief Justice Gavai’s bench clarified:

Delhi Government’s Argument

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the government’s stand was that pollution levelsnot vehicle age, should determine whether a vehicle is banned.

Wider Implications

The case could reshape the debate on vehicle emissions policy in India. While environmental advocates stress the importance of strict controls to combat pollution in Delhi — one of the most polluted cities globally — this ruling opens the door for technology-based solutions rather than blanket age-based bans.

The matter will be heard again after the Centre and CAQM file their responses.