Supreme Court Enforces Ban on 10-Year-Old Diesel and 15-Year-Old Petrol Vehicles in Delhi-NCR

The Supreme Court on December 18 clarified that only vehicles with BS-IV compliant engines or higher will be exempt from action if found operating in Delhi-NCR. This clarification modifies an earlier order related to restrictions on 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in view of severe air pollution in the region.

Most 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in India are fitted with BS-III engines. BS-IV engines were introduced a year later. The court stated that vehicles running on BS-III or older standards do not qualify for exemption and can face action if found on roads in Delhi.

The clarification followed a request by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The commission informed the court that older vehicles significantly add to pollution levels and should not be allowed any relief during periods of extreme air quality deterioration. Earlier, the court had said that no strict action would be taken against such vehicles, which created uncertainty for both vehicle owners and enforcement agencies.

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CAQM data submitted to the court shows that around 93 percent of the 2.88 crore vehicles in Delhi-NCR are light motor vehicles, including cars and two-wheelers. About 37 percent of these vehicles run on BS-III or older engines.

According to the commission, these vehicles emit much higher levels of pollutants, including particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide, compared to newer vehicles.

As air quality levels continue to worsen, the Prime Minister’s Office has directed authorities to take strict action against polluting vehicles. Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced several measures to reduce vehicular pollution. These include restricting entry to BS-VI vehicles, denying fuel to vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate, implementing an integrated traffic signal system, promoting car pooling, banning entry of non-BS-VI private vehicles and stopping trucks carrying construction material from entering the capital.