Phased Ban on Luxury Petrol and Diesel Cars Suggested by Supreme Court to Promote EV Adoption

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): In a major step to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in India, the Supreme Court has suggested that the government consider imposing a phased ban on luxury petrol and diesel vehicles. The move aims to encourage a faster transition towards cleaner and sustainable mobility.

Attorney General R. Venkataramani informed the court that the Central Government is positive about the idea and is already working in this direction. He also mentioned that 13 ministries are actively involved in promoting the EV transition process.

The bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made the suggestion during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), which sought effective implementation of government policies promoting EVs. Justice Surya Kant observed that since high-end electric vehicles are now available in the market, the transition could begin by restricting luxury petrol and diesel cars. He stated, “Now that large, comfortable, and premium EV models are available, why not start by restricting only the very expensive cars? It won’t affect the common man as such cars are owned by a small segment of people.”

Increase in EVs Will Lead to More Charging Stations

Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan argued that while earlier EV prices were high, incentive schemes were launched to make them affordable. Now, the main challenge lies in the lack of charging stations. Responding to this, the Court noted that as the number of EVs on the road increases, the number of charging stations will also rise naturally. The judges added that these are market-driven developments, and existing petrol pumps could also provide EV charging facilities in the future.

The Attorney General supported the Court’s suggestion but acknowledged that significant work remains at the implementation level. He confirmed that several meetings have already been held on the matter and emphasized the need for focused execution.

Court Calls for Review of Existing EV Policy

The Supreme Court also noted that the current EV policy, framed five years ago, may require a detailed review and update to meet present challenges. The Attorney General assured the bench that a comprehensive report on the notifications and progress made so far would be submitted. The Court has scheduled the next hearing after four weeks.