Delhi’s enforcement of pollution certificate rules is facing a compliance problem, with a BMW receiving 42 challans for driving without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) since 2019, including 24 this year alone, according to figures reported by the Times of India. The vehicle’s certificate has reportedly remained expired since 2024, even as the capital has invoked Stage-I measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
The figures show that repeated penalties do not always lead vehicle owners to renew their certificates. The BMW is the most frequently challaned vehicle in the reported list, but repeat violations are also recorded among two-wheelers and commercial vehicles.
A 2023-model Suzuki motorcycle has accumulated 33 PUCC challans, including 29 this year. The motorcycle now has a valid certificate. An Activa has received 32 challans, of which 26 were issued in 2026, while its PUCC remains expired. A 2012-model Ace has been challaned 28 times, and a 2025-model TVS Raider has received 24 challans, all during the current year. Both vehicles continue to have expired certificates, the report said.
The cases have emerged as Delhi continues to rely on regulatory and enforcement measures to address vehicle-related emissions. A valid PUCC is mandatory for vehicles operating in the city, and the certificate is issued after testing whether emissions meet prescribed limits at an authorised centre.
Delhi Traffic Police said repeated violations were being treated as habitual rather than accidental. “Vehicle owners are equally responsible for ensuring valid PUCC. Cases with more than 10 pending PUCC challans reflect a clear disregard for the law. Cases where an immediate challan is not possible are pursued through courts,” a traffic police officer was quoted as saying.
Under Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, penalties apply to vehicles that violate prescribed emission standards. The Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, require vehicles to carry a valid PUCC. New vehicles generally need to obtain the certificate one year after registration, while older vehicles usually require renewal every six months. More frequent testing may apply to certain high-polluting vehicles under applicable rules.
The certificate requirement establishes whether a vehicle’s emissions meet prescribed limits when it is tested. However, an expired or missing PUCC does not by itself prove that the vehicle is emitting pollutants above the legal limit. A physical emissions test is required to establish excessive emissions.
Transport expert Anil Chhikara said awareness of vehicle-related legal obligations remained uneven, with some owners not fully familiar with requirements covering pollution certificates and insurance. He said government communication on pollution prevention had not reached all motorists and suggested that the ‘no PUCC, no fuel’ policy could encourage more vehicle owners to obtain valid certificates.
The reported cases therefore distinguish between penalising a violation and securing compliance. While one vehicle eventually obtained a valid certificate after repeated challans, other vehicles continued to attract penalties without renewing their documents. The Traffic Police said cases with more than 10 pending PUCC challans could be pursued through courts when an immediate challan was not possible.
