Lawyers' body seeks SC administration's intervention against non-BS-VI vehicle curbs in Delhi

    New Delhi, Oct 31 (PTI) The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Saturday requested the apex court administration to intervene in the issue concerning restrictions in Delhi on vehicles that do not conform to BS VI emission standards from November 1.

    Flagging the difficulties likely to be faced by advocates due to the proposed restrictions, the bar body said a number of lawyers practising before the Supreme Court commute daily from neighbouring areas including Noida and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and Gurugram and Faridabad in Haryana.

    In a communication addressed to the top court's secretary general, the SCBA said the restrictions would cause considerable hardship to the members of the Bar and "thereby potentially causing disruption in the smooth administration of justice".

    "On behalf of the Supreme Court Bar Association, we seek your goodself's kind intervention regarding the difficulties likely to be faced by advocates/members of SCBA, on account of the proposed restrictions on vehicles not conforming to BS-VI emission standards in Delhi with effect from November 1," it said

    The bar body said the apex court, through its earlier orders, had permitted the use of vehicles conforming to earlier emission standards,

subject to conditions prescribed therein.

     The SC, in its order dated August 12, 2025, had placed a blanket bar on coercive measures against diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. However, this order was modified in December 2025, with the SC clarifying that protection applies strictly to vehicles compliant with BS-IV standards or higher.

     The bar body, in its statement, said advocates are an integral and indispensable part of the administration of justice, and any restriction affecting their daily commute to the apex court would have a direct bearing on the effective discharge of their professional obligations.

    More than 10 lakh vehicles in neighbouring NCR areas of Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad could be affected by the Delhi government's decision to prohibit entry of vehicles below BS VI emission standards from November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027, according to the Transport Department estimates.

    The directive bans BS-IV passenger cars and commercial goods vehicles which are registered outside Delhi. Two-wheelers are exempted.

    According to the advisory, BS-VI, CNG and electric vehicles will be allowed to enter the national capital in accordance with prescribed rules and exemptions.

    The restrictions come as Delhi and its neighbouring NCR areas once again grapple with air pollution as the winter sets in.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)