SCBA seeks Supreme Court intervention over Delhi's BS-VI vehicle curbs

The SCBA has asked the Supreme Court administration to address Delhi's planned BS-VI vehicle entry restrictions. It says lawyers' disrupted commutes could hinder the smooth administration of justice.

In Short

• Restrictions will operate from November 2026 until the end of January 2027
• Over ten lakh vehicles across five NCR cities could be affected
• BS-IV passenger cars and commercial goods vehicles registered outside Delhi are barred

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has asked the Supreme Court administration to intervene over restrictions on vehicles that do not meet BS-VI emission standards in Delhi, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

The restrictions, scheduled to apply from November 1, 2026, could affect lawyers who travel daily to the Supreme Court from neighbouring areas such as Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad.

In a communication to the Supreme Court secretary general, the SCBA said the curbs would cause considerable hardship to its members, “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,” the association said.

The SCBA said the Supreme Court, through its earlier orders, had allowed the use of vehicles meeting previous emission standards, subject to prescribed conditions.

In an order dated August 12, 2025, the Supreme Court had barred coercive action against diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. The order was modified in December 2025, when the court clarified that the protection applied only to vehicles meeting BS-IV or higher emission standards.

The association said advocates were an integral and indispensable part of the administration of justice, and any restriction affecting their daily commute to the Supreme Court would directly affect the effective discharge of their professional duties.

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

The directive bars BS-IV passenger cars and commercial goods vehicles registered outside Delhi. Two-wheelers are exempt. The advisory says BS-VI, CNG and electric vehicles will be allowed to enter the capital in accordance with the prescribed rules and exemptions.

The SCBA has sought the Supreme Court administration's intervention as the vehicle restrictions are set to take effect amid worsening winter air pollution in Delhi and neighbouring areas.

- Ends