Overview
- A bench of Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran refused to entertain the plea seeking star ratings for vehicles to curb air pollution.
- The petitioner, Uttar Pradesh-based paediatric surgeon Dr. Sanjay Kulsherestha, sought ratings based on fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions to guide consumers toward cleaner cars.
- The bench said the issue falls within the government's policy domain and permitted the petitioner to make a representation to the Union of India.
- Filings cited India’s draft Bharat New Car Assessment Programme as pending since July 2023 and referenced an earlier gazette notification that has not been operationalised.
- The plea highlighted public-health concerns, citing reports of about 2.1 million air-pollution deaths in 2021 and emphasizing PM2.5 exposure from vehicular exhaust.