Court Imposes Temporary Halt on Age-Specific Automobile Restriction in Delhi
In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has granted a 4-week interim relief to owners of diesel vehicles 10 years or older and petrol vehicles 15 years or older in Delhi-NCR. This decision comes in response to a review petition filed by the Government of Delhi, challenging the age-based ban on older vehicles in the region.
The original ban, enforced by the National Green Tribunal in 2015, prohibited diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years from running in Delhi-NCR. However, the Delhi Government argues that this blanket age-based ban is arbitrary and outdated, lacking a scientific basis.
The Government points out that emissions standards have significantly improved with the introduction of Bharat Stage VI (BS VI) norms in April 2020. These norms reduce particulate matter emissions by up to 80% and nitrogen oxides by 70% compared to BS IV vehicles. Therefore, roadworthy BS VI-compliant vehicles should not be forcibly removed from roads based solely on age.
The ban also does not account for actual vehicle condition or usage patterns. Private vehicle owners may use their cars sparingly and maintain them well, whereas commercial vehicles like taxis cover large distances but are allowed to run longer. Applying the same age criteria uniformly is unfair to private owners.
The Delhi Government seeks a review of the 2018 Supreme Court order that upheld the ban, arguing it is no longer consistent with current pollution control practices and technological advancements. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Delhi, emphasized that the ban compels police and authorities to seize vehicles, causing hardship to owners and enforcing an arbitrary cutoff with no scientific justification.
The Supreme Court's interim order pauses enforcement for four weeks while seeking wider stakeholder input before deciding the future course. The court has sought responses from the Central Government and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider their perspectives on the ban and its review petition.
For now, sanity and liberation from arbitrary measures have triumphed, giving everyone in the region a moment to breathe easier, both literally and figuratively. The relief granted by the Supreme Court of India prevents coercive action from being taken against the specified vehicles in Delhi-NCR.
This case has the potential to revolutionize how the country perceives vehicular pollution in Delhi-NCR. The Supreme Court will hear the review plea with arguments on behalf of the Centre and CAQM. If successful, the policy could lead to a more nuanced regulation based on vehicle emissions and condition rather than age alone, potentially revising end-of-life definitions for vehicles in Delhi-NCR.
References:
- The Hindu
- Indian Express
- Livemint
- Business Standard
- The Times of India
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