The Supreme Court is currently hearing a plea from a luxury vehicle owner who claims authorities refused to issue a Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate for his over 10-year-old diesel car. This refusal occurred despite the vehicle, a Volvo XC60, reportedly clearing all mandated emission tests.
Challenge to Age-Based Restrictions
The petitioner argued that high-end vehicles, if well-maintained, should not be automatically deemed polluting simply due to their age. His legal representation informed a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant that the vehicle had successfully passed emission checks, yet the PUC certificate was withheld.
According to the petitioner's counsel, the primary reason for the denial was a software limitation at PUCC centers. These systems, along with their operating instructions, reportedly do not permit the issuance of a PUC certificate for any vehicle exceeding a specific age threshold, irrespective of its actual emission performance. The direct consequence of this denial is the inability to purchase fuel, effectively making the luxury vehicle unusable.
Supreme Court Questions Policy Challenge
During the hearing, Chief Justice Surya Kant questioned the petitioner's challenge to the existing policy on older vehicles. He emphasized that the policy was established to address significant pollution concerns, particularly from older, less fuel-efficient vehicles, which he referred to as “gas guzzlers.” The Chief Justice suggested that citizens should support such environmental policies. Despite this, the bench agreed to schedule the matter for further hearing.
Background on Vehicle Age Restrictions
This case arises amidst ongoing restrictions on end-of-life vehicles, particularly in the Delhi-NCR region. Previously, the Supreme Court had issued an order preventing coercive action against vehicles based solely on their age (10 years for diesel, 15 years for petrol). However, this relief was later clarified to apply only to vehicles meeting BS-IV and BS-VI emission standards, leaving many older models, including BS-I, BS-II, and BS-III categories, still subject to the ban.
The December 17 order from the Supreme Court aimed to address concerns from vehicle owners regarding the impact of these age-based restrictions. Earlier, the Delhi government had also sought a scientific review to determine whether the complete ban on older petrol and diesel vehicles in the National Capital Region should continue.