New Delhi, July 26 — The Delhi Government has approached the Supreme Court seeking a review of the blanket ban on diesel and petrol vehicles older than 10 and 15 years, respectively. The government argued that vehicle fitness should be judged by actual emission levels using scientific methods rather than age alone.
In its plea, the Delhi Government urged the court to recall its October 29, 2018 order, which upheld the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) directive enforcing age-based restrictions on vehicles.
The government maintained that a comprehensive and balanced policy is essential to tackle air pollution in Delhi-NCR. It cited the need for a joint study by the Centre and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to assess the environmental benefits of age-based bans versus emission-based regulation.
A bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai is likely to hear the plea on Monday.
In its earlier directives, the Supreme Court had ruled that all diesel vehicles over 10 years and all petrol vehicles over 15 years must be barred from plying in NCR. It had also directed Transport Departments to seize such vehicles under the Motor Vehicles Act and banned them from being parked in public areas.
The Delhi Government’s latest move reflects growing concern over the practicality and fairness of blanket bans, especially in light of newer technologies that allow emissions to be monitored more precisely on a vehicle-to-vehicle basis.
