New Delhi: The Delhi Government have approached the Supreme Court to review a 2018 order that banned diesel vehicles that were 10 years old and petrol vehicles that were 15 years old in the National Capital Region (NCR) for a pollution control measure. A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice Bhushan R Gavai is likely to hear the plea soon on July 28th, 2025, for the court’s order on October 29th, 2018, that upheld the National Green Tribunal’s original directive.
The plea submitted that a comprehensive policy is needed in order to counter the Delhi-NCR pollution, which will give the original emission levels of each car through a scientific method rather than barring the cars on the basis of age. The plea seeks a comprehensive study by the Centre and CAQM to evaluate the actual environmental benefits of age-based restriction over emission-based benchmark.
The apex court had previously directed the Transport Department of States in the NCR that all diesel vehicles over the age of 10 years and 15-year-old petrol vehicles will not be allowed in terms of order of the National Green Tribunal order.
The application explains that there are much stricter pollution control measures in place, such as the enhanced coverage of the Pollution-Under Control certificate system and even the implementation of the Bharat Stage-VI standards. It has also been said that there are cleaner fuels as well.
The Delhi government has highlighted that the 2018 ban has caused many practical hardships for many people. These vehicles have clocked much less in distance and are also seen contributing much less emissions as well in a year.