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The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the Delhi government the green light to take action against vehicles that fail to meet the BS IV (Bharat Stage 4) emission standards in the NCR region. The top court noted that while authorities must safeguard vehicle owners who follow emission norms, stricter measures can be enforced against vehicles contributing to higher pollution, ANI reported.

This follows the Delhi government’s announcement on Tuesday of tough new measures to tackle the city’s rising pollution levels. Vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate will no longer be allowed to purchase petrol or diesel. Only BS VI-compliant vehicles will be permitted to operate within city limits, with older vehicles facing restrictions. Trucks carrying construction materials into Delhi will be sealed, and non-Delhi registered vehicles below BS VI standards will also be barred from entering.

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that while pollution levels in the capital remain “fair,” similar to the past decade, proactive steps are necessary to prevent a further rise in pollution.

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While approving the Delhi government’s actions, the apex court also criticised authorities for failing to make meaningful progress in controlling air pollution. The Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, said the crisis has become a recurring annual problem that cannot be solved with last-minute or short-term measures alone. Shutting schools, switching to hybrid classes, or restricting certain activities may provide temporary relief but do little to tackle the root causes of pollution.

The court stressed that lasting improvement requires a sustained, phased plan rather than reactive measures after air quality worsens.

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Air pollution levels remained high across Delhi, with PM2.5 readings in several areas far above safe limits:

Anand Vihar – 371

ITO – 381

Bawana – 376

Rohini – 374

Mundka – 374

Vivek Vihar – 372

Pusa – 370

Nehru Nagar – 366

Punjabi Bagh – 352

Dwarka NSIT – 354

Other areas also reported high readings, highlighting the ongoing challenge in tackling Delhi’s air quality.