LI Network
Published on: 27 July, 2025 15:32 IST
Delhi government has approached the Supreme Court seeking a review of the blanket ban on End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs), contending that the current policy disproportionately penalises middle-class vehicle owners and lacks a sound scientific basis.
As per existing directives- stemming from a 2018 Supreme Court order and subsequent National Green Tribunal (NGT) rulings—petrol vehicles over 15 years old and diesel vehicles over 10 years old are barred from operating in the National Capital Region (NCR), irrespective of their actual condition or emissions.
In its review petition, filed by the government led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the Delhi administration has argued that age-based prohibitions fail to take into account recent advancements in emission standards, particularly the implementation of Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) norms in April 2020. “The road-worthiness of a vehicle is a technical and scientific issue that must be linked to actual emissions, as tested and recorded under the Motor Vehicles Act and Central Motor Vehicles Rules,” the plea states. “A blanket ban based solely on age is unscientific and unfair.”
Environment Minister Majinder Singh Sirsa echoed this view, stating that the review application calls for an evidence-based assessment framework that evaluates individual vehicle emissions rather than enforcing broad restrictions based purely on age. He added that the current regime ignores crucial factors like vehicle maintenance, usage patterns, and compliance with Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms.
The petition further notes that over 2.8 million BS-IV and BS-VI vehicles are registered in Delhi and could be unjustly impacted under the existing age-centric policy. The government has urged the Court to direct the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to conduct a comprehensive scientific study to determine whether the current ban significantly contributes to improving air quality in the region.
This move comes in the wake of widespread public criticism and logistical difficulties that had recently forced the government to pause a campaign aimed at enforcing the fuel-based ban on older vehicles.