No PUC Certificate, Registration Of Transfer & Other Services For Vehicles Without High-Security Registration Plates In NCR : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday directed all National Capital Region (NCR) states to enforce compliance with the High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) Order, 2018 and color-coded stickers on vehicles for identifying fuel types.

A bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan directed that NCR states must not undertake certain vehicle-related activities unless the vehicles conform to the Order. Further, the states have been directed to ensure that no Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate is issued to any vehicle that is not compliant with the HSRP Order.

“In addition to the directions referred to above to ensure that vehicles registered in NCR States before or after 1st April 2019 are compliant with the order, we direct the NCR States not to effect transfer of ownership, addition of hypothecation, change of address, hypothecation continuation. Duplicate registration certificate, cancellation of hypothecation and permitted fitness-related activities shall not be undertaken if the vehicle is not compliant with the said order. In addition to that the NCR States shall issue a direction that no PUC certificate shall be issued unless compliance is made with the said order.”

The Court modified its earlier order prescribing colour-coded stickers to stipulate that vehicles in NCR sold on or after April 1, 2019, must comply with the HSRP provisions. For non-compliant vehicles sold after this date, the concerned governments are directed to initiate penal action under Section 192(1).

“We modify the order dated 13 August 2018 and direct that as regards vehicles sold on or after 1st April 2019 the provisions of the HSRP Order will apply and in case of vehicles sold on or after 1st April 2019 which are not compliant with the provisions of the order, action under section 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 shall be initiated by the concerned governments. We therefore direct NCR states to initiate a drive to catch the non-compliant vehicles and ensure that penal action under section 192(1) is initiated in case of all such vehicles.”

The Court was hearing the Delhi Air Pollution matter, which also addressed issues such as stubble burning, pollution from power plants, and the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules.

The Court referred to Section 39 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which mandates that no vehicle shall be driven in a public place without proper registration. It also highlighted Rule 50(1)(iv) of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, which requires a third registration mark in the form of a self-destructive, chromium-based hologram sticker to be affixed to the windshield of vehicles.

Additionally, the Motor Vehicles (High Security Registration Plates) Order, 2018, mandates hologram-based stickers of specific colours to identify fuel types—light blue for petrol/CNG vehicles and orange for diesel vehicles. The Court highlighted that non-compliance with these provisions will attract penal provisions under Section 192(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act.

The Court also directed the NCR states to ensure that the HSRP Order is implemented even in case of vehicles registered before April 1, 2019. The Delhi government informed the Court through an affidavit that authorized dealers of original vehicle manufacturers have been tasked with affixing HSRPs and color-coded stickers.

The Court directed all NCR states to file affidavits within a month, detailing their plans to ensure compliance for vehicles registered before and after April 1, 2019. These affidavits, along with a compiled report from the Central Government, are to be submitted by March 17, 2025. The Court will review the compliance status on March 21, 2025.

Additionally, the Court directed NCR states to consider adopting a policy to ensure that a substantial number of vehicles purchased by government organizations, municipal bodies, and other entities are electric vehicles. These decisions are to be finalized and presented to the Court by March 17, 2025.

Earlier, the bench underscored the need for strict enforcement of its orders related to colour coded stickers, in facilitating the enforcement of pollution control measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), particularly during severe pollution.

Case no. – WP (C) 13029/1985

Case Title – MC Mehta v. Union of India 

Click Here To Read/Download Order