Delhi air pollution: SC allows action against end-of-life vehicles

New Delhi: In view of the deteriorating level of air pollution in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court on Wednesday modified its August 12 order -- which stayed any coercive action against diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years -- as it clarified that action can be taken against such vehicles that could not meet the emission standards below BS-IV.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi allowed the authorities to take action against end-of-life vehicles falling below BS-IV emission standards in Delhi-National Capital Region.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati sought the modification of the court’s earlier order, citing the adverse impact of such vehicles on air quality. She submitted that the continued use of older, highly polluting vehicles contributed to the air pollution.

It was contended that older vehicles, their emission standards are very poor, and these vehicles are contributing significantly to the pollution.

Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, amicus curiae in the air pollution matter, did not oppose these submissions. The bench was informed that BS-IV came in 2010, and BS-III models are before that.

The bench thus modified its August 12 order "to the extent that no coercive steps shall be taken against owners of vehicles which are BS-IV and newer on the ground that they are above 10 years old (in the case of diesel engines) and 15 years old (in the case of petrol engines)".

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas flagged vehicular pollution as one of the most significant contributing sectors to the poor air quality in Delhi-NCR.

Earlier this month, in an affidavit, the commission had urged the Supreme Court to review its August 12 order, which ordered no coercive steps be taken against the owners of 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in the national capital.