Supreme Court Directs Authorities to Address Vehicular Emissions Impacting Delhi-NCR Air Quality

NEW DELHI — Amid concerns over deteriorating air quality in the national capital, a Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has shifted its focus toward the consistent danger of vehicular emissions. On November 6, the court noted a sharp increase in issues attributable to vehicular traffic, emphasizing that thick smog following Deepavali has compounded due to the landlocked geography of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

The court pointed out that Delhi and the NCR bear a cumulative burden of vehicular traffic originating not only within their own boundaries but also from the neighbouring States of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Consequently, the apex court has directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Delhi government, the Delhi Police Traffic department, and the neighbouring states to file responses detailing their actions to regulate incoming commercial and non-commercial vehicles.

Authorities are specifically required to outline measures for identifying, monitoring, and regulating vehicles that do not conform to prescribed emission standards, alongside steps to prevent the entry of overage, end-of-life, or non-compliant vehicles. The bench requested information on inspections, challans, vehicle denials, and inter-state coordination mechanisms, as well as short-term and long-term mitigation plans.

This scrutiny follows previous apex court orders issued on January 21 and February 23, which detailed recommendations from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The January 21 order highlighted proposals such as phasing out polluting vehicles, fortifying the pollution-under-check regime, expanding rail and metro transport, updating electric vehicle policies, developing multi-modal transport hubs, and offering higher incentives for vehicle scrapping. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the CAQM, had previously submitted studies attributing PM2.5 levels to primary emissions and secondary particulate formation within the region.

Additionally, the February 23 order directed the Delhi government and central ministries to submit a joint proposal for shifting coal-based industries out of the Delhi-NCR region, aligning with CAQM recommendations to ban new coal-based thermal power plants within a 300-kilometer radius of Delhi.

However, during the November 6 proceedings, court-appointed amici curiae reported that compliance with these earlier orders has yet to be properly reported. As a result, the Supreme Court has instructed authorities to provide specific enforcement measures and a time-bound implementation roadmap. The apex court has scheduled four suo moto cases addressing various aspects of air pollution, including vehicular emissions, green cover, industrial activities, and waste management, to be heard between November 23 and November 30.

"The recent Supreme Court directives on vehicular emissions highlight the growing regulatory focus on environmental compliance across the Delhi-NCR region. For businesses, logistics providers, and transport operators operating in and around the capital, strict enforcement of emission standards and potential restrictions on non-compliant commercial vehicles mean operational models must adapt swiftly. Companies need to proactively align with environmental guidelines and modernize their fleets to navigate upcoming regulatory shifts smoothly." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes