The Delhi government has formally approached the Supreme Court seeking relaxation of the blanket ban on older vehicles—diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years old—citing that the current rule unfairly targets well-maintained, low-emission vehicles used by the middle class.

What is the current ban?

As per a 2018 Supreme Court directive:

• Diesel vehicles older than 10 years

• Petrol vehicles older than 15 years
  are banned from running in Delhi-NCR, regardless of their condition or emissions performance.

What is Delhi Govt's plea?

The Delhi government has filed a plea to reconsider the 2018 order, making the following key arguments:

1. Fitness over Age:
   The government argues that vehicles should be judged based on fitness tests, not just their age. Many privately-owned vehicles, especially by the middle class, are well maintained and still meet pollution norms.

2. BS-6 Emission Standards:
   Newer BS-6 compliant vehicles, even if diesel, emit far less pollution than older BS-4 or BS-3 models. Thus, not all older vehicles are equally polluting.

3. Low Usage Pattern:
   Most private vehicle owners—particularly those using cars for personal use—drive very little annually, meaning they have minimal environmental impact.

4. Unscientific Blanket Ban:
   The plea requests the court to order a comprehensive scientific study to assess the real impact of these vehicles instead of enforcing an arbitrary age cutoff.

5. Impact on Middle Class:
   CM Rekha Gupta emphasized that the ban disproportionately affects middle-income households, who invest in good vehicles and maintain them well over time. She said, “You can’t just say people should stop driving. That’s not a solution.”

What CM Rekha Gupta said:

CM Gupta explained that while pollution is a serious concern, the court-imposed age-based ban is not a permanent solution. “We’ve filed an application demanding that bans be implemented based on fitness certification, not age. Otherwise tomorrow it might be said that no one should step out of their homes.”

What could happen next?

The Supreme Court may now:

• Consider commissioning a scientific review or study via the Central Govt or the Air Quality Management Commission.

• Potentially revise the ban criteria to include vehicle fitness assessments, not just age.

This move could set a precedent nationally, affecting old vehicle bans in cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru too.