India: Diesel cars banned in New Delhi

India’s Supreme Court has imposed a temporary ban on large diesel cars in New Delhi as a measure to curb worsening air pollution in the capital, ranked as the world’s worst in a 2014 World Health Organisation (WHO) survey.

Chief Justice T.S. Thakur ordered the ban on registration of new vehicles with engine capacity of two liters or more, hence, affecting sport utility vehicles, jeeps, and other luxury cars in Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region.

The ban will take effect until March 31, 2016.

The court also prohibited trucks, especially those which are more than 10 years old, from passing through the city.

“Diesel vehicles of 2,000cc and above and SUVs are generally used by more affluent sections of our society and, because of the higher engine capacity, are more prone to cause higher levels of pollution. A ban on registration of such vehicles will not affect the common man or the average citizen of Delhi," the court said.

In line with this, light commercial vehicles are exempted “on account of the dependence of the public on such vehicles for supply of essentials", the court further said in a report published by The Times of India.

The Supreme Court decision has raised concerns among carmakers like Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz which considers that such ban would “severely impact” growth plans and future investment in India, reported Reuters.

India’s top carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra also saw its shares fell following the ban. Nonetheless, Mahindra’s chairman Ananda Mahindra said the company would honor the court decision.