The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to immediately stay the Delhi government’s notification barring vehicles registered outside the Capital that do not meet Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission standards from entering the city.
The decision comes days after the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) sought exemptions for advocates, judges and court staff from the proposed BS-VI vehicle restrictions. It argued that these individuals perform the essential service of administering justice and should be exempted from the restrictions. The letter also pointed out that BS-VI emission standards were introduced in Delhi in 2020, while the transport department and the Supreme Court had, through various orders, allowed vehicles meeting earlier emission standards to operate within specified lifespans — up to 10 years for diesel vehicles and 15 years for petrol vehicles.
Urging the authorities to consider these provisions while implementing the restrictions, the association said the high cost of housing in Delhi made it unaffordable for many advocates, judges and court staff to live in the Capital. The Delhi traffic police had announced the restrictions on Friday, urging motorists travelling to the Capital to check whether their vehicles met the prescribed emission standards before setting out.
