The Supreme Court has sought detailed reports from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan on measures to curb vehicular pollution in the National Capital Region, including action against older vehicles entering or travelling through the region. The court has given the states, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Delhi Police two weeks to respond.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohan, expressed serious concern over the reported rise in pollution caused by vehicles and called for immediate steps, according to Live Hindustan. The proceedings place responsibility for controlling vehicle emissions across the NCR on multiple state and local authorities rather than Delhi alone.
The governments have been asked to explain what measures are being taken to prevent older vehicles from entering the NCR and how their movement is being regulated. Their reports are also expected to cover pollution-under-control certificate checks and action through challans against violations.
The court has asked the authorities to provide details of coordination among the four states, MCD and Delhi Police. This is significant for enforcement in the NCR, where vehicles regularly cross administrative boundaries between Delhi and neighbouring parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. Measures implemented within one jurisdiction can therefore be affected by compliance and enforcement in another.
The reports must also identify the short-term steps being planned to reduce the contribution of vehicles to rising pollution in Delhi-NCR. The authorities have additionally been directed to outline longer-term measures aimed at reducing vehicular emissions and addressing the continued increase in pollution attributed to traffic.
The direction comes as the court examines how government agencies are responding to vehicle-related pollution in the region. The requested information is expected to show what restrictions, inspections, enforcement mechanisms and coordination arrangements are currently in place, as well as the timelines proposed for future action.
The next step is for Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, along with MCD and Delhi Police, to file their detailed responses within two weeks. Those submissions will set out the authorities’ planned short-term and long-term measures to control vehicular pollution across the NCR.
