Court Prohibits Legal Actions Against Owners of Abandoned Vehicles in the Delhi-NCR Region
The Supreme Court of India has temporarily halted all coercive action against owners of diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). This means no vehicle seizures or enforcement of the fuel ban on these "end-of-life" vehicles will take place for now.
The court's three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice BR Gavai, has ordered a re-examination of the 2018 blanket ban that prohibited such vehicles from operating in the Delhi-NCR area, following a petition from the Delhi government challenging the ban on scientific grounds. The Supreme Court has also issued notices to the Centre and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for detailed responses.
This interim order comes amid significant public backlash and logistical concerns raised by the Delhi government over implementing the ban effectively. The court cited advancements such as BS-VI emission norms and prevalent Pollution Under Control (PUC) measures as relevant factors in reconsidering the existing ban. The matter is listed for further hearing four weeks after the August 12, 2025 order.
This ruling provides temporary relief to affected vehicle owners, allowing continued use without immediate enforcement. The CAQM order, which aimed to stop fuel supply and scrap vehicles older than 10 years for diesel vehicles and 15 years for petrol vehicles, has been deferred till November 1.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa believes that if a vehicle is polluting, it should be banned, regardless of its age. He has filed a review to apprise the court of the current situation. Mr. Sirsa suggests that pollution should be the criterion, not the age of the vehicle.
The deferral of the CAQM order is a relief for car owners in Delhi and the NCR whose vehicles fall under the "end-of-life" category. The Supreme Court's 2018 order had previously mandated the scrapping of vehicles older than the specified years. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had ordered in July that fuel supply be stopped to vehicles that fall under the "end-of-life" category, which includes vehicles older than the specified years.
In summary:
- No coercive action against owners of diesel vehicles >10 years and petrol vehicles >15 years in Delhi-NCR for now;
- Re-examination of the 2018 Supreme Court ban is underway;
- Notices issued to central and air quality authorities to respond;
- Next hearing scheduled after four weeks from August 12, 2025.
This ruling provides temporary relief to affected vehicle owners, allowing continued use without immediate enforcement.
- The deferral of the CAQM order, initially aiming to enforce the scrapping of vehicles older than 10 years for diesel vehicles and 15 years for petrol vehicles, is now a part of the ongoing politics of policy-and-legislation, with the Supreme Court's recent ruling providing temporary relief.
- As the court re-examines the 2018 ban on diesel and petrol vehicles older than 10 years and 15 years respectively, general news is focused on the potential changes in the future of these vehicles in the Delhi-NCR area, with numerous discussions on the science, logistics, and environmental implications involved.
