New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim protection to owners of older vehicles in Delhi-NCR, barring authorities from taking coercive action against diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles older than 15 years, media reports said.

A bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria issued the order after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi government, sought relief in a case challenging the blanket ban on such vehicles, reported The Times of India.

“Issue notice, returnable in four weeks. In the meantime, we direct that no coercive steps be taken against the owners on the ground that vehicles are 10 years old in respect of diesel vehicles and 15 years old in respect of petrol vehicles,” the bench said.

The matter stems from a plea seeking recall of the court’s October 2018 order upholding a National Green Tribunal (NGT) directive that prohibited diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years old from plying in the region.

The NGT had gone further, ordering a ban on all petrol and diesel vehicles above 15 years of age and authorising seizure for violations under the Motor Vehicles Act.

Both orders were aimed at tackling worsening air pollution in the capital and neighbouring states, particularly during winter.