In Brief
The Supreme Court addressed whether automobile manufacturers could continue selling BS-III compliant vehicles after 1st April 2017, when BS-IV standards became mandatory nationwide. The Court rejected manufacturers' pleas to clear 'accumulated stock' of non-compliant vehicles, holding that the Government's decade-long phased implementation, explicit notice to industry, and ₹30,000-crore investment in BS-IV fuel justified a strict cutoff. The Court emphasised that notifications must be interpreted purposively for public health, not literally to favour commercial interests. Limited case-by-case exceptions for extraordinary circumstances were permitted only for vehicles already sold before 31st March 2017. The decision prioritised citizens' constitutional right to breathe clean air over industry profits.
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