In a fresh move that could impact lakhs of vehicle owners in the capital, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced that her government will soon approach the Supreme Court to demand uniform rules for overage vehicles, in line with those followed across the rest of the country.
This announcement came during an event on Sunday, July 6, 2025, where CM Gupta stated, “The parameters that are applicable in the entire country should also apply to Delhi. We want Delhiites not to face any inconvenience.” The move reflects growing public concern over the strict rules around older vehicles in the capital.
Highlights
- Delhi to file review petition in Supreme Court seeking parity in old vehicle rules
- CM Gupta calls current policy unfair and inconvenient for Delhi citizens
- LG Saxena terms 10-year diesel vehicle ban in Delhi as “irrational”
- CAQM’s strict ban on fueling ELVs began from July 1 in Delhi
What’s the Current Rule?
Back in 2018, the Supreme Court passed a judgment banning diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years old from operating in Delhi. The idea was to combat Delhi’s severe air pollution, but the rule doesn’t apply uniformly across the rest of the country.
For example, a diesel car that’s 11 years old is still legal to drive in states like Punjab or Uttar Pradesh, but if it’s registered in Delhi, it’s considered “end-of-life” (ELV) and can’t be used, sold, or refueled in the capital.
LG, CM on the Same Page
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has also stepped in. In a letter to the CM, he questioned the logic of this selective enforcement: “It is irrational to imagine that a 10-year-old diesel vehicle has reached its end of life in Delhi while remaining roadworthy in other parts of the country.”
He emphasized the need for a technologically advanced and legally balanced approach, saying pollution is a shared responsibility but the execution of rules must also be fair and sensitive to people’s needs.
Also Read: Top 10 Best-Selling CNG Cars in India in FY2025: Ertiga Leads, Nexon Joins the Club
CAQM’s Fuel Ban Triggers Backlash
The controversy intensified after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued a directive to deny fuel at petrol pumps to overage vehicles starting July 1, 2025. ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras were installed at over 500 fuel stations to enforce the order, automatically identifying vehicles older than the legal limit.
The rule also includes impounding and scrapping of such vehicles under the Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) policy. The next phase of this ban will roll out in Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Sonipat from November 1, 2025, and across the rest of NCR from April 1, 2026.
Initially, the Delhi Government supported this enforcement. However, after public pressure, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa wrote to CAQM last week, requesting a hold on the implementation of the directive. The CAQM has yet to respond officially.
What Happens Next?
With Delhi’s top leaders calling for a review and the matter heading to the Supreme Court, all eyes are now on whether the judiciary will consider a nationwide uniformity in vehicle age rules.
For now, the clampdown on overage vehicles continues in Delhi — and if no change is made, lakhs of citizens may be forced to either scrap or move their old but still functional vehicles outside city limits.