Supreme Court Hears Case On Color-coded Stickers For Vehicles In Delhi NCR

The Central government informed the Supreme Court that it had filed six compliance affidavits. This was done during the ongoing hearing regarding the implementation of colour-coded stickers to identify the type of fuel used by vehicles in Delhi NCR. These affidavits were submitted in response to the Court’s previous directions on air pollution control measures.

Supreme Court Questions Implementation Beyond NCR States

While considering the compliance reports, the Supreme Court raised the question of whether the Central Government had issued any similar orders for non-NCR states. The bench asked whether it should use Article 142 to extend the implementation of the fuel identification stickers to states outside the National Capital Region (NCR).

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Central Government, responded that she would seek further instructions from the government before providing a detailed response. She added that the government would carefully examine the relevant laws and regulations before taking any further steps.

Order To Tackle Air Pollution By Supreme Court

In December 2023, the Supreme Court directed the Central Government to take steps to reduce air pollution in Delhi NCR. The Court had approved a government plan aimed at curbing pollution in the region. A key element of this plan is the introduction of colour-coded stickers for vehicles, which will make it easier to identify the type of fuel each vehicle uses.

Colour-Coded Stickers For Identification

Under the new plan, vehicles running on petrol and CNG will be marked with blue stickers, while diesel vehicles will receive orange stickers. The scheme is designed to help authorities and the public easily identify the fuel type of any vehicle at a glance.

Previously, the Central Government had submitted an affidavit stating that it had designed six categories of stickers to cover various types of vehicles. These colour-coded stickers will specifically target vehicles over a certain age—15-year-old petrol vehicles and 10-year-old diesel vehicles—to better identify those contributing more significantly to pollution.

Aparajita Singh, an advisor to the Supreme Court, had earlier suggested that the use of these coloured stickers would enable vehicles to be easily identified from a distance, allowing authorities to quickly determine the type of fuel used and take appropriate action when necessary.

Also Read: Supreme Court Seeks Additional Affidavits On Caste Discrimination Guidelines In Higher Education