New Delhi, July 28: The Supreme Court is set to hear a significant petition on Monday filed by the Delhi government, challenging the blanket ban on end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) in the Delhi-NCR region. The plea contests the prohibition on diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years, arguing it disproportionately affects middle and lower-income groups.
The 2018 SC directive, currently under scrutiny, has impacted thousands of vehicle owners. The Delhi government claims the age-based rule lacks scientific basis and calls for an emissions-focused policy instead.
In its petition, the government urges the court to direct the Centre or the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to conduct a scientific study evaluating the actual environmental impact of such vehicles. It contends that many older vehicles, especially BS-VI compliant or low-usage ones, emit minimal pollutants and should not be lumped into a blanket ban.
“The current approach enforces uniform restrictions without accounting for pollution levels or usage patterns,” the petition notes, stressing the policy’s adverse effect on families dependent on older vehicles for commuting or livelihood.
The case gains prominence as BS-VI emission standards, the strictest in India to date, are now in nationwide effect, raising questions about the relevance of a purely age-based ban.
The outcome of the hearing could shape the future of vehicle regulation and urban mobility in the capital region.
