NEW DELHI: How did vehicles that were not considered major contributors to pollution until October suddenly become so? The Delhi high court on Tuesday questioned the authorities on this, while ruling that advocates and court staff cannot be directed not to ply their non-Delhi-registered, pre-BS-VI vehicles.The court had earlier exempted lawyers and judicial staff from the three-month restriction on such vehicles entering Delhi, observing that their presence was of utmost importance for the smooth functioning of courts.Justice Amit Mahajan said vehicles of advocates and court staff holding valid parking stickers issued by any bar association in Delhi could travel to and from the capital on court working days between November 1, 2026, and January 31, 2027, on production of valid identity cards.The order came on a petition by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA), which sought an exemption for vehicles lawfully used by advocates residing in the National Capital Region (NCR) and travelling to Delhi for professional duties.
Why the court intervened
The DHCBA told the court that a large number of advocates commute from NCR cities, including Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida and Ghaziabad, to attend hearings and perform other professional duties.Senior advocate and DHCBA president N Hariharan argued that preventing them from using their non-Delhi-registered, pre-BS-VI vehicles would affect the administration of justice.The court noted that the government’s notification itself provided exemptions for those performing sovereign and essential duties.Assisting the court in discharging judicial work was prima facie an essential duty and could, at times, be emergent, it said.The judge also observed that the authorities had not claimed to be providing adequate transport for advocates and court staff to reach courts.The court listed the matter for hearing in January and asked the Centre and the Delhi government to file their replies.
Restrictions on vehicles entering Delhi
Citing pollution concerns, the Delhi government had announced on June 23 that non-Delhi-registered vehicles below BS-VI emission standards would be barred from entering the capital between November 1 and January 31.A subsequent transport department notification said other state-registered BS-IV and below vehicles would not be allowed to ply in Delhi during this period every year.The restrictions also cover commercial goods vehicles and buses that do not meet the prescribed emission standards, including those operating under All India Tourist Permits. CNG and electric vehicles are exempt.The transport department has deployed around 250 enforcement personnel at key entry points, toll plazas and pollution hotspots to implement the restrictions.
Delhi’s air quality remains under pressure after Diwali
The restrictions come amid worsening air quality in the capital. Delhi recorded an average AQI of 376 on Diwali, its most polluted Diwali in five years. The AQI remained in the very poor category the following morning, touching 371 at 10am on Monday.Of the 51 monitoring stations that recorded data, 14 reported severe air quality, while 33 were in the very poor category. DTU recorded the highest reading at 439.The Air Quality Early Warning System forecast that Delhi’s air quality was likely to remain severe over the next few days, with unfavourable weather conditions, vehicular emissions, Diwali celebrations and stubble burning in neighbouring states contributing to the pollution load.Meanwhile, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has argued that firecrackers are being unfairly blamed for Delhi’s pollution.Its chairman, Brijesh Goyal, said firecracker sales in the capital were estimated at around Rs 300 crore this Diwali and called for year-round action against stubble burning and other pollution sources.(With agency inputs)
