Delhi HC exempts lawyers, court staff from pre-BS-VI vehicle ban

The Delhi High Court on Friday said lawyers and court staff would be exempted from restrictions on the entry of non-Delhi-registered, pre-BS-VI vehicles into the national capital, allowing them to travel to court on working days.Justice Amit Mahajan passed the order on a plea filed by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA), which had sought relief for advocates residing in neighbouring NCR cities and commuting to Delhi for professional duties. The judge said the exemption would be applicable on court working days.The order comes against the backdrop of the Delhi government’s decision to prohibit the entry of all non-Delhi-registered vehicles below BS-VI emission standards between November 1 and January 31, citing concerns over air pollution.Appearing for the DHCBA, its president and senior advocate N Hariharan argued that a large number of lawyers commute to Delhi courts from Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida and Ghaziabad, and should not be prevented from using their vehicles to discharge professional responsibilities.“How can there be a blanket ban? We are performing judicial functions. If half of us can’t come here, how will the courts function?” Mr. Hariharan submitted.The association, in its petition, acknowledged the state’s authority to regulate vehicular emissions in the interest of clean air but argued that advocates should be exempted in view of the potential impact on the administration of justice.“Advocates timely attendance when required by a court serves the interests of litigants and the administration of justice,” the plea said. Relying on the Supreme Court’s ruling, the DHCBA argued that access to justice was a fundamental facet of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.“That principle makes the demonstrated effect on access to courts a relevant consideration. It does not confer a general privilege to pollute but it requires the authority to consider whether regulated access can reasonably reconcile the competing interests,” the petition said. Published - November 07, 2026 06:49 am IST