In a major news for vintage car and bike enthusiasts, the National Green Tribunal has permanently exempted vintage and classic cars from the 15-year-old vehicle ban. As per the previous order, all vehicles older than fifteen years old were to be scrapped in the Delhi-NCR region. However, the ban was opposed by enthusiasts and owners alike given the historical importance of the said vehicles. As per the order, vintage and classic cars registered under the Motor Vehicles Act to be used for exhibitions, rallies and maintenance will be permanently from the ban. The decision has been met with much applause amongst vintage car owners and enthusiasts.
The Green Court referring to Rule 92 (2)(c) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 and Section 59 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, granted an exemption to "antique/vintage" vehicles. The bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that vintage cars that satisfy prescribed norms under the Motor Vehicles Act would be allowed to run. The plea to allow vintage and classic cars on roads was filed by Heritage Motoring Club of India, with senior advocate KTS Tulsi acting as president.
The ban was originally announced in 2014 and vintage/classic car owners had to take special permission from the NGT to drive these vintage vehicles on public roads. The court also pointed out that while the vehicles being allowed to ply on public roads, the owners also had a corporate social responsibility and need to make a contribution towards the environment by planting more trees and providing dustbins, which would help improve the overall ambient air quality of Delhi.
The ban will affect over 10,000 vintage vehicles in the country that span from 1886 to 1987, which had an uncertain future. The Delhi-NCR region alone is said to have about 1200 vehicles that fall under this category. The classic car movement has been opposing the ban, which was brought into effect after increased air pollution concerns in the national capital. The owners argued that these cars not only held higher value but were also of historical importance and served different roles in the growth of vehicular transport of the nation.
