Delhi’s decision to enforce a blanket ban on end-of-life vehicles—diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol ones older than 15—has come under renewed scrutiny after the Delhi High Court recently stayed the seizure of a vehicle from private property without notice. The move, which briefly saw city authorities implement a strict no-fuel policy for such vehicles, has reignited debate around the fairness, legality, and environmental efficacy of using vehicle age as a proxy for pollution.
The current policy is rooted in a 2015 National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, later upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. While its primary aim is to tackle Delhi’s worsening air quality by phasing out older, high-emission vehicles, critics argue the blanket enforcement has failed to account for key distinctions—particularly between vehicles that are poorly maintained versus those that are well-serviced and emission-compliant. A Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate is the government’s standard for certifying that a vehicle’s emissions are within prescribed norms. Yet, Delhi’s ELV enforcement regime does not honour a valid PUC if the vehicle crosses the age threshold. The controversy intensified when the city enforced a rule denying fuel to all ELVs based on automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems at fuel stations. On the day of enforcement, over 62 lakh vehicles became ineligible for fuel, triggering confusion and panic across the capital. Citizens queued at pumps only to be turned away, and complaints flooded social media. Within 48 hours, Delhi government officials halted enforcement, citing technological shortfalls, incomplete integration of NCR databases, and a lack of clarity on exemptions for compliant vehicles.
Critics of the policy maintain that punishing vehicles based purely on age—regardless of how they perform on emissions tests—risks alienating responsible citizens who follow regulations. Many have pointed out that a vehicle that passes PUC norms year after year, and is used sparingly, may pollute far less than a newer model driven for hours daily in congested traffic. Instead of encouraging sustainable practices, such as regular maintenance and compliance, the current policy appears to prioritise mass vehicle disposal—creating environmental and logistical burdens in the process. At the heart of this issue lies the credibility of the PUC system itself. While it is intended to be a reliable emissions test, its implementation is often marred by corruption, lack of oversight, and fraudulent certification. Many pollution-testing centres issue certificates without actual checks, undermining the tool’s reliability. Officials and urban transport experts have called for digital verification systems, real-time data audits, and stronger penalties for misconduct in the PUC ecosystem. For the PUC to form the backbone of Delhi’s vehicle policy, it must be tamper-proof and institutionally sound.
The city’s reliance on age as a determinant of pollution has been contrasted with policies in other global urban centres. In London, for example, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) restricts access to certain areas based on actual emissions rather than the year of manufacture. Motorists are incentivised to switch to cleaner vehicles without being forced into premature scrappage. In Beijing, authorities use a mix of driving restrictions, public transport subsidies, and parking enforcement to reduce road usage. European cities like Paris and Berlin have embraced emissions-linked incentives, blending long-term sustainability with immediate compliance. Officials within Delhi’s transport and environment departments have acknowledged that regional cooperation across the National Capital Region is essential for the policy’s effectiveness. If neighbouring states such as Uttar Pradesh and Haryana do not implement similar restrictions, ELV owners will merely cross city borders to refuel, defeating the purpose of the ban. The use of ANPR technology at fuel pumps has also proven to be inconsistent, particularly as many vehicles still lack High-Security Registration Plates that the system relies on for identification.
The Delhi High Court’s interim stay has triggered a review of the current policy’s legal and practical foundations. Legal experts suggest that vehicle seizure without notice, especially from private premises, raises constitutional concerns around property rights and due process. Civil society groups have further argued that policies must balance environmental intent with public trust and procedural fairness. Arbitrary enforcement risks public resentment, non-compliance, and eventual legal collapse of well-intentioned frameworks. There is growing consensus among sustainability experts that Delhi needs to move from reactive enforcement to proactive planning. A long-term solution lies not in penalising vehicle age, but in creating conditions that reduce overall dependence on private cars. Investments in clean, frequent, and affordable public transport, cycling infrastructure, and walkable neighbourhoods are essential to lower vehicular emissions across income groups. Policy tools such as congestion pricing, low-emission zones, and dynamic parking fees could disincentivise non-essential road usage more effectively than a blanket ban.
The Delhi government, while reiterating its commitment to clean air, has indicated that changes to the ELV policy are under review. Officials have stated that an emissions-based regime, anchored in real-time compliance via verified PUC certificates, may replace the age-first approach. The administration has also requested that NCR states jointly develop an integrated fuel and emissions regulation framework to ensure regional consistency. While the goal of improved air quality is universal and urgent, the path to achieving it must be equitable, scientifically grounded, and publicly trusted. Arbitrary age-based bans, without robust alternative systems or regional alignment, risk eroding civic trust and legal defensibility. A policy that treats every vehicle on the road—irrespective of age—with the same fairness and rigour in emissions testing would offer a far more credible and sustainable solution for Delhi’s long-standing pollution crisis.
Also Read : Delhi Sees Light Rainfall Bringing Relief Amid Waterlogging And Traffic Delays
