Supreme Court's big order for Delhi's old vehicles: 'No coercive action against owners'

Supreme Court has issued a notice on Delhi government’s application challenging the ban on diesel and petrol vehicles in the capital.

Supreme Court on Tuesday said that no coercive action is to be taken against the owners of 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in the National Capital Region.

Supreme Court issued notice to Centre and Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on the plea of Delhi government challenging the blanket ban on diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years.

A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria passed the order after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi government, urged the apex court to consider ordering no coercive steps.

"Issue notice, returnable in four weeks. In the meantime, we direct that no coercive steps be taken against the owners on the ground that vehicles are 10 years old in respect of diesel vehicle and 15 years old in respect of petrol vehicles," the bench said.

The Delhi government moved the top court challenging the blanket ban on diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years.

Environment Minister in the city government Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Tuesday the Supreme Court order for no coercive action against the owners of end-of-life vehicles has come as a "big relief" for the people of Delhi.

"This is a big relief for the residents of Delhi," Sirsa said, welcoming the verdict.

He pointed out that the Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed diesel vehicles up to 10 years old and petrol vehicles up to 15 years old to remain in use until the next date of hearing in the matter, instead of imposing a blanket ban based on age alone.