The Supreme Court has issued notices to all concerned parties over the ban on diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in Delhi-NCR.
The three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice BR Gavai, also stayed punitive action against the owners of such vehicles. The court directed the parties to submit their responses within four weeks.
The Delhi government filed a review petition seeking reconsideration of the 2018 order that imposed restrictions on older vehicles.
In its plea, the government argued that the current policy places undue pressure on the middle class. It requested the court to re-examine the ban in light of newer environmental and technical data.
The petition claimed that BS-6 vehicles cause less pollution compared to BS-4 vehicles. It further argued that many of the vehicles affected by the ban are well-maintained and comply with required standards.
The government maintained that the ban affects vehicles that still meet fitness criteria and are safe for use.
The petition urged the Supreme Court to direct the Centre or the Commission for Air Quality Management to conduct a comprehensive scientific study.
This study would evaluate the actual environmental impact of banning petrol vehicles over 15 years old and diesel vehicles over 10 years old in NCR.
Citing several studies, the petition noted that these older vehicles often have low annual mileage and contribute minimally to overall emissions.
The government suggested replacing the current age-based ban with a more precise, emission-based regulatory framework that considers both pollution levels and vehicle fitness.
The Delhi government stressed that the existing rules demand uniform compliance for all vehicles, regardless of whether they are high polluters or well-maintained, low-usage vehicles. It argued for a system that differentiates based on actual emissions rather than age alone.
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