To push faster EV adoption, the Supreme Court proposes restricting luxury car sales to curb pollution and boost transition.
The Supreme Court suggested that India could accelerate its transition to electric mobility by first phasing out luxury petrol and diesel vehicles, noting that such a move would not impact the wider population. The observation came from a bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi while hearing a public interest litigation seeking effective implementation of the Centre’s electric vehicle (EV) promotion policies.
Justice Kant said the market already offers high-end electric cars that can match the comfort and performance of conventional fuel-powered luxury vehicles often used by VIPs and large corporations. He suggested that restricting these high-end fuel vehicles could serve as a starting point for strengthening India’s EV ecosystem. “Very small part of the Indian population can afford such vehicles. Just think of imposing a ban on the very high-end vehicles first,” the judge remarked.
Attorney General R Venkataramani informed the court that the government supports the idea and that 13 ministries are working together on EV adoption measures. He added that the Centre is progressing on multiple fronts to push cleaner mobility.
The petitioner’s counsel, advocate Prashant Bhushan, highlighted that while EV prices have reduced over time, inadequate charging infrastructure remains the key barrier. The bench acknowledged the concern but said market forces would drive the expansion of charging stations as EV numbers rise. It also suggested the government review its EV policy to address current gaps. The matter will be heard again in four weeks.
