The Supreme Court on December 17, 2025, modified its August 12 order to lift protection from impoundment, fines, and deregistration for end-of-life (EOL) vehicles specifically diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol ones over 15 years old meeting BS-III petrol or BS-IV diesel and lower emission standards in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Acting on a recommendation from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant clarified that safeguards now apply only to BS-IV compliant and newer vehicles, reinstating stricter 2018 court and 2014 National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives amid Delhi’s persistent air pollution crisis.
Delhi government representative Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati pushed for the change, stating “older vehicles’ emission standards are very poor,” while amicus curiae Aparajita Singh noted BS-III norms predate 2010 standards; environmental groups applaud the move for public health gains, but vehicle owners and transport unions express fears over sudden livelihood disruptions without adequate scrappage support.
Escalating Enforcement in Pollution Hotspot
Delhi-NCR grapples with over 50 lakh EOL vehicles, which CAQM estimates contribute up to 40% of transport-related emissions, exacerbating winter smog where Air Quality Index (AQI) levels frequently surpass 400 and hit 450+ peaks in November 2025.
The court’s order empowers authorities to impose immediate bans, including vehicle impoundment, fines up to ₹20,000 for first offences rising to ₹50,000 on repeat, denial of fuel at pumps, and mandatory deregistration, all monitored through automated number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras and mobile checkpoints under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage IV.
ASG Bhati underscored the public health imperative during hearings, linking high particulate matter (PM2.5) levels to rising respiratory illnesses among children and the elderly, while CAQM chairperson Rajesh Verma affirmed, “This targeted action aligns with long-term clean air goals without blanket exemptions”.
On the ground, cab driver Raj Kumar from Delhi shared his plight: “These vehicles are our family’s only income source; scrapping them means starvation unless subsidies kick in fast,” humanising the tension between environmental necessity and economic survival.
From Temporary Reprieve to Renewed Crackdown
This development traces back to the August 12, 2025, order, which extended a 2018 Supreme Court ban’s pause until March 31, 2026, responding to petitions over 82 lakh non-compliant vehicles and monsoon-induced delays in scrappage infrastructure across NCR states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Earlier, a July 2025 fuel sales ban on EOL vehicles sparked protests and was temporarily halted, prompting CAQM’s fresh plea amid GRAP activations from prolonged stubble burning and industrial emissions.
The modification smartly excludes relatively cleaner BS-IV diesel and BS-III petrol models, balancing feasibility with enforcement, as states mobilise transport departments for compliance verification and retrofitting incentives.
No widespread incidents have surfaced immediately post-order, but vigilance teams are ramping up, with Delhi Police announcing special drives; this builds on past NGT rulings that first flagged EOL vehicles as “mobile pollution sources” over a decade ago.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Supreme Court’s firm yet nuanced intervention marks a vital stride towards reclaiming breathable air in Delhi-NCR, safeguarding millions from the invisible poison of unchecked emissions while signalling intolerance for delays in sustainable progress.
At The Logical Indian, we stand for compassionate resolve envisioning enforcement hand-in-hand with empathy through robust scrappage rebates, widespread electric vehicle charging networks, vocational training for drivers, and public campaigns that unite communities in harmony with nature. True coexistence demands we bridge the gap between polluters’ regrets and victims’ rights, fostering dialogue that turns crisis into collective action for greener tomorrows.
