New Delhi: The Delhi government has filed a plea in the Supreme Court, urging that vehicles passing pollution, emission, and fitness tests should be permitted to operate in the national capital irrespective of their age. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Saturday that vehicle regulation, particularly age-based bans, should be uniform across India.
Speaking at an event, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta emphasized, “A polluting vehicle should be phased out even if it is only five years old. But if a vehicle clears the fitness test and doesn’t cause pollution, it should not be subject to arbitrary age-based restrictions.”
Gupta criticized previous administrations for failing to address air pollution in Delhi, arguing that such negligence led to blanket bans by the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles.
In its latest plea, the Delhi government has asked the apex court to reconsider its October 29, 2018 order, which upheld the NGT’s 2014 directive banning older vehicles, irrespective of their actual emissions.
The matter will be heard by a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Bhushan R Gavai on July 28.
“There should be the same rules in Delhi as in the rest of the country. We are making every possible effort to improve the environment, but fairness in implementation is necessary,” said Gupta.
The government’s petition argues for a scientific and emissions-based policy, rather than a blanket ban based purely on the age of vehicles. It asserts that actual emission levels, verified through standardized fitness tests, should determine whether a vehicle is permitted to operate.
The Chief Minister added, “We hope the court acknowledges our stand and allows vehicles that are not harmful to the environment to continue serving the people.”
