The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to examine whether BS-VI compliant vehicles should be allowed to ply in Delhi-NCR even after crossing their end-of-life threshold, as prescribed by its earlier 2018 orders aimed at curbing vehicular pollution.
A bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran said it would take up the matter for detailed examination next Monday – July 28. The direction came after an advocate mentioned the matter for urgent listing, seeking reconsideration of the blanket age-based ban.
The application seeks relief for BS-VI compliant vehicles, arguing that these newer-generation vehicles adhere to stricter emission norms and should not be subject to the existing limits of 15 years for petrol and 10 years for diesel vehicles in Delhi and the National Capital Region.
The advocate submitted that since the timeline for phasing out older vehicles was fixed by the top court itself, any modification to the same must come through a judicial review. He further pointed out that the government cannot unilaterally alter the policy, citing existing top court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders concerning air quality control.
In 2015, the NGT had directed a blanket ban on diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in Delhi-NCR as a measure to tackle hazardous air pollution. The Supreme Court had upheld this direction in 2018, giving it the force of law.
Recently, in keeping with the pollution control framework laid down by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the Delhi government implemented a strict ‘No Fuel’ policy beginning July 1, 2025. The rule prohibited refuelling of petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years at fuel stations across Delhi.
However, just two days later, the Delhi government suspended the policy, citing operational and infrastructural difficulties, as well as mounting public backlash. The sudden hold on enforcement prompted legal questions on whether BS-VI vehicles — being significantly less polluting — should still be subject to the age-based end-of-life norms.
The court will now examine if a distinction can be made in policy for BS-VI compliant vehicles and whether the vehicular age bans need to be reviewed in light of advances in automotive technology and emission controls.