The Supreme Court on Tuesday barred police and other authorities from taking coercive action against owners of petrol vehicles over 15 years old and diesel vehicles over 10 years old in the Delhi-NCR, offering relief to thousands of commuters.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai issued the interim order, effectively pausing the apex court’s own October 2018 ban on such vehicles. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Delhi government, argued that while private owners faced the ban, the same vehicles could still be used commercially beyond the 10-year limit.
Ms. Bhati told the court that the prohibition, though well-intentioned, had caused “numerous practical hardships” over the past seven years. She cited cases like that of a senior citizen forced to sell his car for scrap value with no means to buy another. She urged for a scientific study to assess whether a complete ban remains necessary.
The court observed that vehicle roadworthiness should be determined by emissions tests under the Motor Vehicles Act and Rules, rather than a blanket age-based ban.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta welcomed the ruling, saying it balanced environmental concerns with public convenience. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa called it a “big relief” for residents, pledging to protect both air quality and citizens’ rights.
