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The Delhi High Court has permitted lawyers and court personnel residing across the National Capital Region (NCR) to drive vehicles below BS-VI emission standards into Delhi on days when courts remain operational.
Justice Amit Mahajan granted the exemption while hearing a request from the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA).
Senior advocate N Hariharan, appearing for the association, emphasised that lawyers and court employees need reliable access to the capital to perform their duties. He warned that preventing their entry could interfere with judicial proceedings and undermine the delivery of justice.
Such restrictions could disadvantage litigants whose cases depend on their lawyers’ presence.
Hariharan noted that the relevant notification authorises the Environment Department to provide exemptions to particular vehicle categories.
The decision comes against the backdrop of Delhi’s restrictions on vehicles registered outside the capital that fail to meet BS-VI emission requirements.
The measures began on November 1 and are scheduled to continue until January 31, 2027.
Authorities have prohibited entry for externally registered petrol and diesel vehicles complying with BS-IV or earlier emission standards.
The rules exclude BS-VI vehicles, electric and CNG-powered transport, ambulances, fire engines, police vehicles and other officially exempted categories.
In an earlier challenge to the restrictions, the High Court issued notice to the authorities but declined to halt their implementation temporarily.
The petitioners questioned the distinction between Delhi-registered vehicles and those from neighbouring states. They argued that authorities should not determine a vehicle’s treatment solely by its place of registration.
Transport Department estimates suggest that over 10 lakh vehicles across Delhi-NCR fall below BS-VI emission standards.
The affected areas include Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad.
The latest judicial relief addresses commuting difficulties faced by legal professionals and court employees travelling into Delhi from neighbouring districts.
Also Read: Delhi High Court Refuses To Stay Restrictions On Non-BS-VI Vehicles Registered Outside Delhi
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