Earlier this month, the court had directed that 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles should not face strict enforcement from December 18, following a plea by the Delhi government.
However, the order created ambiguity for both vehicle owners and enforcement agencies.
The clarification came after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) sought further directions, arguing that vehicles running on BS-III or older engines significantly worsen pollution levels and should not be granted any relaxation.
The court accepted the submission, noting that a 15-year-old petrol vehicle and a 10-year-old diesel vehicle are typically BS-III compliant, while BS-IV engines were introduced a year later.
As a result, only BS-IV and newer vehicles will be allowed exemption from punitive action.
The move follows mounting evidence that vehicular emissions are a major contributor to Delhi’s annual winter smog.
According to data submitted by the CAQM, around 93 percent of the 2.88 crore vehicles plying in Delhi-NCR are light motor vehicles, including cars and two-wheelers. Of these, nearly 37 per cent run on BS-III or older engines.
These older vehicles emit 2.5 to 31 times more particulate matter, 6.25 to 12 times more nitrogen oxides, and up to five times more carbon monoxide than newer models, the CAQM told the court.
With air quality levels continuing to deteriorate, the Prime Minister’s Office has ordered strict action against polluting vehicles.
On Tuesday, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced additional measures to curb vehicular pollution, including denial of fuel to vehicles without a valid PUCC certificate, deployment of an integrated traffic management system to reduce congestion, and the launch of a car-pooling app.