New Delhi: The Supreme Court has given the Delhi government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Police and the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan two weeks to explain the steps they are taking to regulate the movement of over-age and non-compliant vehicles in the National Capital Region (NCR), citing a sharp increase in concerns linked to vehicular emissions.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued the directions on November 6 while hearing a suo motu case on air pollution in Delhi-NCR. The matter will be heard again on November 23.
The court recorded that data placed before it showed a substantial decline in stubble-burning incidents across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. While welcoming the decline, the bench said the same data pointed to a contrary and equally serious concern — a sharp increase in issues attributable to vehicular emissions. It observed that the issue "warrants urgent and immediate intervention".
The bench noted that Delhi and the NCR are geographically and economically interconnected and bear the combined burden of vehicular traffic originating within the region as well as from neighbouring states. It also flagged the substantial number of commercial and non-commercial vehicles entering and operating in Delhi from different parts of the region, adding to the existing vehicular emission load.
The authorities have been asked to explain the existing regulatory framework and enforcement mechanisms governing the entry and movement of commercial and private vehicles in Delhi and the NCR, particularly those originating from neighbouring states.
They must also detail the measures in place to identify, monitor and regulate vehicles that do not meet prescribed emission standards, including the enforcement of Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate requirements.
The bench further sought details of enforcement action taken against violations, including the number of vehicles inspected, challaned, denied entry or otherwise proceeded against. It also asked the authorities to explain the coordination mechanisms between Delhi and neighbouring states for regulating inter-state vehicular movement and ensuring compliance with emission norms.
The authorities have also been directed to specify the additional short-term and long-term measures they propose to take to curb vehicular emissions, strengthen enforcement mechanisms and provide a time-bound roadmap for implementation. They must respond to suggestions made by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the amicus curiae, and outline any additional measures they independently propose.
During the hearing, the Centre told the bench that restrictions were in place on the entry of vehicles that did not meet BS-VI emission standards. It also said Pollution Under Control certificates were being linked to the locations where vehicle checks were conducted.
The directions come amid deteriorating air quality in the region. The CAQM invoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Friday, November 6, as a precautionary measure ahead of Diwali.
Under Stage III restrictions, BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel light motor vehicles (four-wheelers) are barred from plying in Delhi and the specified high-density NCR districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar.
The restrictions also prohibit most dust-generating construction and demolition activities across the NCR and require the closure of stone crushers and mining activities.
Schools up to Class V are required to conduct classes in hybrid mode in the areas covered by the relevant directions. State governments and the Delhi government may also decide to allow public, municipal and private offices to operate with 50% of their staff attending physically, while the remaining employees work from home. (with inputs from media organisations)