Delhi Government Challenges the Age Bar on Vehicles in the Supreme Court
In a daring attempt, the government of Delhi has even gone to the Supreme Court in an approach of the same ban on old vehicles based on age that has stood long in the capital. The basics of the question were put: Is every aged car polluting?
This can also be attributed to a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order given in 2014 wherein it was stated that all diesel vehicles, which are more than 10 years old, and petrol vehicles with an age of more than 15 years should not be allowed to operate in the Delhi-NCR region.
It was a blanket policy that affected everyone, no matter what the state of the vehicle, how it was used, or how polluted it was.
This inflexible policy is something that Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta feels is time to take another look at. She states that we cannot even be scientific or logical enough to decide that a vehicle is road-worthy or not based on its age as many of them are in good condition and fit to the fitness and emission standards, as well.
In the event a 5 year old transferring car is polluting it should not remain. So what is wrong when a 20-year old vehicle is clean and in good shape, CM Gupta said. She has also asked the court to do away with age- influenced regulations in favor of guidelines that would be based on emissions and verified by scientific research and physical assessment.
The petition will be heard by the Supreme Court, bench presided over by the Chief Justice Bhushan R. Gavai on July 28, 2025. Delhi government has petitioned the Court to withdraw the October 2018 that reversed the previously ruled decision of NGT.
It also desires a new study conducted by the Central Government and Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to examine the effectiveness of the existing policy and interventions to see whether there are superior alternatives.
The current prohibition has destabilised the second-hand car market and rendered thousands of Delhiites with a decent car abandoned in the middle of the roads as it has been banned. Should the Court hold on behalf of Delhi, the case may not only provide a solution to the problems of the owners of vehicles but also transform the vehicle regulation policy in the country that is tailored toward fitness and emission-based models.
The focus is now on the Supreme Court hearing that is set to occur shortly, would science outweigh age in the vehicle policy in India?
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