In the ongoing M.C. Mehta v. Union of India proceedings before the Supreme Court, Advocate Dr. Charu Mathur appeared for applicants Nagalakshmi and Arun Kumar Singh, assailing the “Guidelines for Handling End-of-Life Vehicles in Public Places of Delhi, 2024” issued by the GNCTD. These guidelines mandate scrapping of diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years old, regardless of their actual roadworthiness or compliance with emission norms.
The applicants submitted that the policy is arbitrary, lacks statutory authority under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and unlawfully deprives owners of property without compensation, thereby violating Article 300A of the Constitution. They emphasised that vehicles purchased prior to the NGT’s 2015 ban were acquired with a legitimate expectation of 15 years’ usage based on registration validity, and retrospective application of the ban undermines fairness and the doctrine of legitimate expectation. The plea also pointed out that the guidelines fail to distinguish vehicles based on actual pollution output despite the availability of emission testing technology, provide no cut-off date, and offer no appellate remedy.
Significantly, the Delhi Government, through its own interlocutory application, informed the Court of its intent to remove the blanket 10/15-year ban on vehicles, signalling a potential policy shift.
After hearing submissions, the Supreme Court issued notice and directed that no coercive action be taken against the applicants. The matter is to be listed after four weeks.