Supreme Court agrees to hear plea seeking fuel relaxation for old Volvo cars in Delhi

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a plea filed by a group of Volvo car owners seeking relaxation of the rule that bars fuel stations in the national capital from refuelling vehicles that have crossed their mandated "expiry" age.

Under the existing framework, diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years are barred from plying on roads in Delhi-NCR and can be denied fuel, in line with directions issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and enforced through subsequent Supreme Court orders.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was told by a lawyer appearing for the petitioners that the matter be listed for urgent hearing, as the affected car owners were finding it increasingly difficult to get their vehicles refuelled.


"But this is for pollution... you see," the CJI remarked, pointing to the environmental rationale behind the age-based cutoff.

The lawyer pushed back, arguing that the vehicles in question were high-end Volvo cars built for durability. "These are high-end Volvo cars. They have a long, long life, and we are complying with all pollution norms," he submitted, suggesting that emission compliance, rather than a vehicle's age alone, should determine whether it stays on the road.

"Anyways, we will list it," the CJI said, agreeing to take up the plea.

The age-based restriction on old vehicles traces back to an NGT directive, later upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018, aimed at curbing Delhi-NCR's chronic air pollution by phasing out ageing, high-emission vehicles.