The Supreme Court on Wednesday withdrew the protection earlier granted to owners of end-of-life vehicles with BS-III and lower emission standards in Delhi and the National Capital Region, citing their significant contribution to worsening air pollution.
Modifying its August 12 order, the court allowed authorities to resume action against 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles that fall under BS-III, BS-II and BS-I emission norms. The earlier protection had barred coercive measures such as impounding, effectively allowing these older vehicles to continue plying on roads.
The decision came after the Commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi and Adjoining Areas flagged that the previous order had unintentionally brought highly polluting vehicles back onto the roads, increasing the overall pollution load and undermining air quality control efforts in the region.
A bench comprising the Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi clarified that protection would continue only for BS-IV and newer emission standard vehicles, even if they have crossed the 10-year diesel or 15-year petrol age limit. &ldquo;The August 12, 2025 order is modified to the extent that no coercive steps shall be taken against the owners of BS-IV and newer emission standard vehicles on the ground of age alone,&rdquo; the bench said.
The air quality commission informed the court that vehicles conforming to BS-I, BS-II and BS-III standards remain operational across Delhi-NCR, despite being far more polluting than BS-VI vehicles. Allowing such vehicles to ply, especially during periods of severe air quality deterioration, was found to be detrimental to public health.
The commission noted that vehicular emissions remain one of the largest contributors to poor air quality in the region and that end-of-life vehicles have long been a regulatory concern. Restrictions on such vehicles were first imposed through a series of orders passed between 2014 and 2015, which were later upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
Highlighting the age of the fleet still in circulation, the commission observed that BS-III vehicles have been on the roads for over 15 years, BS-II vehicles for more than 20 years, and BS-I vehicles for over two decades. Given Delhi-NCR&rsquo;s recurring winter pollution crisis, marked by unfavourable meteorological conditions that trap pollutants, the commission stressed the need for stricter controls based on emission standards rather than vehicle age alone.
Data placed before the court showed that nearly 93% of vehicles in the region are light motor vehicles and two-wheelers, which form the bulk of end-of-life vehicles. To strengthen enforcement, the commission had earlier directed that fuel supply to all such vehicles be stopped from November 1 this year, with similar measures to be extended to five high-density NCR districts from April 1, 2026.
The court&rsquo;s latest order is expected to accelerate the removal of older, high-emission vehicles from Delhi-NCR roads as part of broader efforts to curb air pollution and protect public health.

Top court allows action against older, more polluting vehicles to curb NCR air pollution

SC Ends Relief for BS-III, Older Vehicles in NCR

Top court allows action against older, more polluting vehicles to curb NCR air pollution

December 18, 2025 | 24:47 IST