The Delhi government is considering filing a review petition in the Supreme Court against the ban on overaged petrol and diesel vehicles, nearly seven years after the top court’s landmark order mandated the removal of such vehicles from the capital’s roads. Senior officials said the Transport and Environment departments have been asked to carry out an in-depth evaluation of the ban’s implementation, impact, and enforcement viability.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed the development on Thursday, stating that both departments are conducting separate assessments of the existing end-of-life vehicle (ELV) guidelines. “The Environment and Transport departments are studying the guidelines, their impact on the public, and the benefits and consequences related to air quality,” he said. “Once both reports are submitted, the government will take a final decision on whether to approach the court.”
The move comes shortly after the Delhi government relaunched a strict enforcement drive in July to implement the Supreme Court’s 2018 directive. The policy bans petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years from plying in the capital. The enforcement campaign also involved halting fuel supply to such vehicles — a move that sparked widespread public outrage and was quickly paused.
Government sources say the enforcement pause was triggered not only by public backlash but also by serious logistical and operational issues flagged during implementation. “Critical challenges on the ground made the continuation of the drive unfeasible without further review,” said an official.
The pause coincided with a letter from Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, where he questioned the regional disparity of the directive. “How can a vehicle banned as unfit in Delhi run lawfully in other cities? This is against equal treatment,” Saxena wrote, urging the government to push for a uniform vehicle retirement policy across the National Capital Region (NCR). He also asked the government to examine whether the current age-based restrictions are fair and proportionate.
As part of the ongoing review, both departments are expected to study not only the effectiveness of ELV policies but also the feedback from stakeholders, including vehicle owners, environmental groups, and civic bodies. The assessment will also detail the pollution-control measures introduced over the past five months and their measurable impact on Delhi’s air quality.
In an earlier letter to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Minister Sirsa had flagged Delhi’s inadequate infrastructure and public transport capacity, arguing that a sweeping ban disproportionately affects lower-income residents who rely on older vehicles for their livelihood.
The final decision on filing a review petition will be made after the departments submit their reports in the coming weeks. The matter will then be placed before the Delhi Cabinet for approval.
As Delhi attempts to strike a balance between air pollution control and the socio-economic challenges of its residents, the government’s decision could have broader implications for environmental policy in other Indian metros facing similar dilemmas.
