Supreme Court Adjusts Vehicle Age Ban Amid Pollution Concerns

The Supreme Court has revised its previous order, allowing Delhi authorities to take action against older vehicles failing BS-IV emission standards. Vehicles meeting BS-IV or higher are protected from age-based action. This decision affects diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years old.

In a significant move aimed at tackling air pollution, the Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted Delhi government authorities to take action against vehicles that do not adhere to Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV) emission norms. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant modified the August 12 order that barred coercive actions against older vehicles.

The bench clarified that vehicles that comply with BS-IV or newer standards would remain protected from action based solely on age — 10 years for diesel and 15 years for petrol. Senior advocate Aparajita Singh backed the proposal, citing the need to control emissions from older vehicles.

This decision reopens the path for enforcing air quality measures, honing in on vehicles with emission standards older than BS-IV. The court's directive aligns with efforts to curb pollution levels in the national capital, particularly during winter.

(With inputs from agencies.)