Big decision of Supreme Court: Protection given to BS-III and older end-of-life vehicles in Delhi-NCR ends.
supreme court of the country Supreme Court has given an important and strict decision regarding air pollution in the capital Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR). the court has End-of-Life (EOL) vehicles with emission standards of BS-III and below The legal protection given to has been abolished. After this decision, the way has been cleared for strict action against such old and more polluting vehicles.
this order Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) It was passed on the recommendation of the Supreme Court, which had urged the Supreme Court to reconsider its old order in view of the increasing pollution in the capital.
The Supreme Court in its 12 August 2025 By amending the order, it was made clear that now only BS-IV and above vehicles Only they will get temporary relief from any kind of coercive action.
Chief Justice Justice Surya Kant said-
“Para 2 of the order dated 12th August 2025 is amended, under which now no coercive action will be taken against BS-IV and above vehicles only.”
This simply means that BS-III and below The vehicles will no longer come under the scope of this protection.
CAQM argued before the Supreme Court that after the August order, a large number End-of-Life Vehicles Have returned to the streets of Delhi-NCR again.
Due to these vehicles-
Significant increase in air pollution
Increase in PM2.5 and PM10 levels
serious impact on public health
Has been seen.
CAQM told the court that BS-III and older vehicles are currently BS-VI standards They emit many times more pollution than automobiles.
This new order of the Supreme Court is actually October 2018 It is related to the decision of which the court National Green Tribunal (NGT) of 2014 Approval was given to implement the order.
Under the orders of NGT—
Diesel vehicles older than 10 years
Petrol vehicles older than 15 years
Instructions were given to remove them from the roads.
However, in August 2025, the Supreme Court temporarily banned it, due to which thousands of old vehicles came back on the roads.
During the hearing of Delhi pollution case Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati Demanded amendment in the August order from the Supreme Court. He said that the air quality of the capital has reached critical levels and in such a situation, giving relief to old vehicles is against the environment and the health of the citizens.
The court accepted this argument and upheld the recommendations of CAQM.
This decision will have a direct impact on lakhs of old vehicles running in Delhi-NCR.
Now-
Vehicles of BS-III and below can be confiscated
Strictness will increase on fueling such vehicles at petrol pumps
These will be destroyed as per scrapping policy
However, vehicles of BS-IV and above will remain safe from any coercive action for the time being.
The Supreme Court clarified in its order that It is the fundamental right of citizens to breathe clean air. Is.
The court said that if strict steps are not taken today, the situation in Delhi-NCR may become more dire in the coming years.
especially-
children
the elders
respiratory and heart patients
Pollution has the biggest impact on health.
Environmental experts have welcomed this decision of the Supreme Court. He says that BS-III and older vehicles are the major sources of pollution and without removing them, improvement in air quality is not possible.
Experts believe that this decision—
will promote clean vehicles
Will increase inclination towards electric and CNG vehicles
will reduce health costs in the long run
by the supreme court Ending protection provided to BS-III and below end-of-life vehicles It is being considered a decisive step towards pollution control in Delhi-NCR.
Although this may cause inconvenience to some vehicle owners, experts and the court believe that this decision Public health and environmental protection It is extremely necessary for.
This order can prove to be an important milestone towards clean air in the capital region.
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