BS-VI the Upcoming Change for Better Tomorrow

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The Indian Automobile Emission regulation – The Beginning

The Indian Automobile Emission regulation – The Beginning The point of change in the automotive industry started in the year 1989 with the first Indian Emission regulation with the development of time and technology the new regulation were made in 1991 for Gasoline and in 1992 for Diesel vehicles. The major change was seen as in the year 2000 as India started adopting European emission and fuel regulations for four-wheeled light-duty and for heavy-duty vehicles. The two and three-wheeled vehicles were still being governed by India’s own emission regulations.

The emission standards have been implemented with full force since the early 2000s. the reports from the Indian Planning Commission contains the plans and programmes for the countries vision on the automobile market, the National Auto Fuel Policy, which was announced on the 6th of October 2003 focusing on the development and implementation of Euro 2-4 till 2010 and Auto Fuel Vision and Policy 2025, published in May 2014 for the future vision on Bharat Stage IV and onwards.

The Emission Standards have been adopted for the following categories of new engines and/ or vehicles:

  • Cars and Light Trucks
  • 2- and 3- Wheel Vehicles
  • Heavy Duty Trucks and Bus Engines
  • Non road (Off Road) Diesel Engines
  • Generator Sets

The Case:

A petition was filed by MC Mehta, and representation on behalf of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) have had sought time to clear out the stock of BS-IV vehicles and for installing and upgrade of the production line for the BS-VI vehicles. The manufacturers stated that they would require around six to nine months extension for the upcoming change and they have to install the new technology and start the production of new vehicles three to six months prior to the date of ban i.e. 31.03.2020.

The Judgement was rendered by the Bench of Justice Madan Lokur, Justice S Abdul Nazeer and Justice Deepak Gupta.

The decision was made by the Bench as on the absolute ban on Bharat Stage IV vehicles, and no vehicle will be sold or registered in the country from the 1st of April 2020.

The judgement was penned by Justice Gupta as he points out the need to shift towards cleaner fuel and the expenditure made by the government in this regard.

The court observed and made a point about the sizeable amount of taxpayers’ money invested in the upgrade and installation of the new technology for the creation of cleaner BS VI compatible fuel  “It is heartening to note that the Union, being concerned with the health of the citizens and also taking note of the urgent need for a clean environment, has taken steps to manufacture cleaner fuel.”

The court stated that the rights of the citizen to clean air are above the wishes and greed of the automobile manufacturers. As highlighted the environmental improvements in BS-VI, Indian Automobile compliance vehicles.   The judgment states,“There can be no compromise with the health of the citizens and if one has to choose between health and wealth, keeping in view the expanded scope of Article 21 of the Constitution, health of the teeming millions of this country will have to take precedence over the greed of a few automobile manufacturers. The automobile manufacturers must behave responsibly.  We expected that keeping in view our earlier order, they would have themselves   volunteered to be BS¬VI compliant by 31.03.2020.”

Therefore, the Court stated that no vehicle that conforms with BS IV norms shall be sold or registered from April 1, 2020 onwards.

ByPriyam Kamra
Student Reporter, INBA